McClennan’s at the Washington Hilton Hotel in DC exceeded my expectations! The elegant atmosphere and attentive staff created a delightful dining experience. The diverse menu offered a range of delectable dishes, each showcasing high-quality ingredients and expert culinary skills. From the appetizers to the desserts, every bite was a delight. The impeccable service and charming ambiance make McClennan’s a must-visit spot for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in the heart of Washington, DC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John R.
The food is alright nothing special. A little pricey but not that bad. The service is terrible it seems like they take pride in being slow. The lack of interest in customer service is amazing. If this business was not in a hotel it would have gone out of business a long time ago. However if you are staying at the hotel and don't have anything to do or anywhere to go with unlimited time to wait for food and beverage that is average this is your place.
Amber L.
I typically don't write reviews but our experience was awful & the owners should be aware. On a slow Monday night, we encountered the WORST bartender ever!! Before our group even sat down he made it clear "groups" were unwelcome. There were 8 of us visiting for a conference. We've been to this bar in years past & never had an issue. Whoever they had working on 2/12/24 needs to find a new job because he's running customers away & ruining this business.
Kenton W.
Worst service ever. Came in for lunch during a conference being held at the Hilton and sat down to get lunch before the afternoon session started. Waited about 25 minutes for a server and finally got up and found menus which I handed out to the other 6 tables in my same situation. Waited another 20 minutes and found someone who worked there and was told they closed our section but didn't convey that information to the 20 people sitting there in plain sight. Very poor management.
Jessica W.
Was staying at the hotel for work so stopped in here after conference meetings. Understanding that it is a hotel bar so expectations were low, however, it was worse than you'd imagine. The vodka fizz was the #1 worst drink I've ever had it my life. It was almost as if you were pouring oil and water into a jar - the syrup was so thick and didn't mix with the alcohol so you either just got a sip full of syrup or straight vodka through a straw. We also got nachos and they were a 2/5. I prefer real cheese over queso so that might be a me thing but the chicken was also weird. Side of fries were good though, nice thick cut and seasoned. The service was wildly slow. We were there around 4:30pm shortly after they open (at 4pm) so among some of the only people there and it was like pulling teeth to get our orders in/close out. Despite all that, 2 stars over 1 because I would recommend this place for a nightcap. They have a heavy hand on the pours and the ambiance is great after 11pm.
Kevin B.
We came here a few times while staying at the Washington Hilton and it was a pretty good bar overall. We had drinks twice and their pours were very generous. We had an amazing bartender as well and Darrin was super fun and it was great chatting with him. We had dinner once here and the food was decent; my wife had a Caesar salad that was okay overall and my turkey club was good, not great. I'd say this is a fun bar and I would come here again for drinks if I was staying at the Hilton again, but I would probably grab dinner elsewhere as there's several good restaurants within walking distance from the hotel.
Python574
We came here a few times while staying at the Washington Hilton and it was a pretty good bar overall. We had drinks twice and their pours were very generous. We had an amazing bartender as well and Darrin was super fun and it was great chatting with him. We had dinner once here and the food was decent; my wife had a Caesar salad that was okay overall and my turkey club was good, not great. I'd say this is a fun bar and I would come here again for drinks if I was staying at the Hilton again, but I would probably grab dinner elsewhere as there's several good restaurants within walking distance from the hotel.
David Singleton
Nice hotel bar.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Eric Nelson
Loud. That was the first impression walking in. Even for a sports bar it was loud. My wife and I were sitting right next to each other and just about had to shout to be heard by the other. They were maybe 3/4 full, probably closer to 2/3 full. We ended up getting our food to go to get away from the noise. This place is in desperate need of ANY acoustical treatments. A few wall panels and/or ceiling panels would do wonders.Food was meh and overpriced. Broiled salmon was tough around the edges and rather dry. Fairly flavorless, too. The ragout it came with had decent flavor, though, as did the kale which was surprising. The nachos were okay, but the cheese was only a step or two above gas station quality. Jalapenos clearly came from a jar or can. Overall I wouldn't recommend this place for dine in or take out. Was not worth the $60 bill.
Slowest, most understaffed and overwhelmed staff I've ever experienced at a conference hotel restaurant/bar. Also, the place smells fishy on a daily basis. First night I waited 25 minutes before I gave up and went somewhere outside the hotel. 3 days later I'm back, hoping it might be better. 15 minutes in, we finally got a menu... Recommend you go out if staying at this hotel, rather than dine in.
Sunit Girdhar
Really horrible service but they pair it well with truly mediocre food. There was also fruit flies everywhere so that’s fun, right?
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Mark Harris
OUTSTANDING location to meet, greet and eat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melissa “Em” Beall
Drinks are fine. Had a great beer and a pretty good dirty martini. But the food is awful. Prefacing this to say that I ate here twice for the same reason anyone eats at a hotel bar twice: it was raining and I'm unfamiliar with the area so I didn't want to go get soaked to end up somewhere else that sucked.First came down around lunch and got a caprese sandwich. Didn't realize it came with a side, and was pleased to see some spinach on my plate with it. Except that's all it was. Unseasoned, uncooked, undressed spinach. Plain spinach, still with the crush marks on it from the plastic bag it clearly came out of. The sandwich itself would have been passable, except by the time it made it to me it was half-cold and soggy, which made the singular raw tomato slice have an uncomfortable gelatinous texure, and the bread was damp enough for my fingers to punch through.Thought maybe it was a fluke and went down for a quick dinner bite (also it was still raining). As I said, the martini was fine, but the $17 Brussels sprouts I ordered numbered fewer than 17, which feels like a bit of a rip on the face of it. These too, like the salad, were complete unseasoned, and while the outside leaves were nicely fried and crisp, the insides were basically raw. They were at least hot, but they were so firm and solid that the butter knife I was supplied with almost couldn't cut them.Have these people never seen a vegetable before?Don't waste your time. Brave the rain. I will from here on out, regardless of the weather.
Madeleine Easley
Had a great time here! They had great gluten free options and great cocktails. There is probably nothing he could have done, but it seems like there was only one server for a restaurant full of people. There were also multiple conferences going on, so there were a lot of people on top of us normal visitors. He was super nice and did a great job, they just need more help. Great food and vibe.
McClennan’s at the Washington Hilton Hotel in DC exceeded my expectations! The elegant atmosphere and attentive staff created a delightful dining experience. The diverse menu offered a range of delectable dishes, each showcasing high-quality ingredients and expert culinary skills. From the appetizers to the desserts, every bite was a delight. The impeccable service and charming ambiance make McClennan’s a must-visit spot for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in the heart of Washington, DC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is alright nothing special. A little pricey but not that bad. The service is terrible it seems like they take pride in being slow. The lack of interest in customer service is amazing. If this business was not in a hotel it would have gone out of business a long time ago. However if you are staying at the hotel and don't have anything to do or anywhere to go with unlimited time to wait for food and beverage that is average this is your place.
I typically don't write reviews but our experience was awful & the owners should be aware. On a slow Monday night, we encountered the WORST bartender ever!! Before our group even sat down he made it clear "groups" were unwelcome. There were 8 of us visiting for a conference. We've been to this bar in years past & never had an issue. Whoever they had working on 2/12/24 needs to find a new job because he's running customers away & ruining this business.
Worst service ever. Came in for lunch during a conference being held at the Hilton and sat down to get lunch before the afternoon session started. Waited about 25 minutes for a server and finally got up and found menus which I handed out to the other 6 tables in my same situation. Waited another 20 minutes and found someone who worked there and was told they closed our section but didn't convey that information to the 20 people sitting there in plain sight. Very poor management.
Was staying at the hotel for work so stopped in here after conference meetings. Understanding that it is a hotel bar so expectations were low, however, it was worse than you'd imagine. The vodka fizz was the #1 worst drink I've ever had it my life. It was almost as if you were pouring oil and water into a jar - the syrup was so thick and didn't mix with the alcohol so you either just got a sip full of syrup or straight vodka through a straw. We also got nachos and they were a 2/5. I prefer real cheese over queso so that might be a me thing but the chicken was also weird. Side of fries were good though, nice thick cut and seasoned. The service was wildly slow. We were there around 4:30pm shortly after they open (at 4pm) so among some of the only people there and it was like pulling teeth to get our orders in/close out. Despite all that, 2 stars over 1 because I would recommend this place for a nightcap. They have a heavy hand on the pours and the ambiance is great after 11pm.
We came here a few times while staying at the Washington Hilton and it was a pretty good bar overall. We had drinks twice and their pours were very generous. We had an amazing bartender as well and Darrin was super fun and it was great chatting with him. We had dinner once here and the food was decent; my wife had a Caesar salad that was okay overall and my turkey club was good, not great. I'd say this is a fun bar and I would come here again for drinks if I was staying at the Hilton again, but I would probably grab dinner elsewhere as there's several good restaurants within walking distance from the hotel.
We came here a few times while staying at the Washington Hilton and it was a pretty good bar overall. We had drinks twice and their pours were very generous. We had an amazing bartender as well and Darrin was super fun and it was great chatting with him. We had dinner once here and the food was decent; my wife had a Caesar salad that was okay overall and my turkey club was good, not great. I'd say this is a fun bar and I would come here again for drinks if I was staying at the Hilton again, but I would probably grab dinner elsewhere as there's several good restaurants within walking distance from the hotel.
Nice hotel bar.
Atmosphere: 4
Service: 5
Loud. That was the first impression walking in. Even for a sports bar it was loud. My wife and I were sitting right next to each other and just about had to shout to be heard by the other. They were maybe 3/4 full, probably closer to 2/3 full. We ended up getting our food to go to get away from the noise. This place is in desperate need of ANY acoustical treatments. A few wall panels and/or ceiling panels would do wonders.Food was meh and overpriced. Broiled salmon was tough around the edges and rather dry. Fairly flavorless, too. The ragout it came with had decent flavor, though, as did the kale which was surprising. The nachos were okay, but the cheese was only a step or two above gas station quality. Jalapenos clearly came from a jar or can. Overall I wouldn't recommend this place for dine in or take out. Was not worth the $60 bill.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
Lots of fun and I liked the pizza best.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Slowest, most understaffed and overwhelmed staff I've ever experienced at a conference hotel restaurant/bar. Also, the place smells fishy on a daily basis. First night I waited 25 minutes before I gave up and went somewhere outside the hotel. 3 days later I'm back, hoping it might be better. 15 minutes in, we finally got a menu... Recommend you go out if staying at this hotel, rather than dine in.
Really horrible service but they pair it well with truly mediocre food. There was also fruit flies everywhere so that’s fun, right?
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
OUTSTANDING location to meet, greet and eat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drinks are fine. Had a great beer and a pretty good dirty martini. But the food is awful. Prefacing this to say that I ate here twice for the same reason anyone eats at a hotel bar twice: it was raining and I'm unfamiliar with the area so I didn't want to go get soaked to end up somewhere else that sucked.First came down around lunch and got a caprese sandwich. Didn't realize it came with a side, and was pleased to see some spinach on my plate with it. Except that's all it was. Unseasoned, uncooked, undressed spinach. Plain spinach, still with the crush marks on it from the plastic bag it clearly came out of. The sandwich itself would have been passable, except by the time it made it to me it was half-cold and soggy, which made the singular raw tomato slice have an uncomfortable gelatinous texure, and the bread was damp enough for my fingers to punch through.Thought maybe it was a fluke and went down for a quick dinner bite (also it was still raining). As I said, the martini was fine, but the $17 Brussels sprouts I ordered numbered fewer than 17, which feels like a bit of a rip on the face of it. These too, like the salad, were complete unseasoned, and while the outside leaves were nicely fried and crisp, the insides were basically raw. They were at least hot, but they were so firm and solid that the butter knife I was supplied with almost couldn't cut them.Have these people never seen a vegetable before?Don't waste your time. Brave the rain. I will from here on out, regardless of the weather.
Had a great time here! They had great gluten free options and great cocktails. There is probably nothing he could have done, but it seems like there was only one server for a restaurant full of people. There were also multiple conferences going on, so there were a lot of people on top of us normal visitors. He was super nice and did a great job, they just need more help. Great food and vibe.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4