Went here for my birthday this year and did the "Taco Omakase", which was a 12 course taco tasting menu. A few dishes were tostada's or other takes on them, but tacos more or less. Overall it was really good. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of any of the 3 mixed drinks I got. They were decent, but none were standout to me. The dishes were all really good. One of the standouts, which was a surprise to me, was the hominy grits. Mainly since it was vegetarian, and I am a carnivore to the bone. The mole was also really good. All in all it was worth trying. I'm not sure I would go back to it based on price vs just going to bamba to get tacos. I would probably try a few other dishes on the regular menu that sounded good.
Rebecca H.
They had some really unique and delicious food here. Me and my friends tried a lot of their dishes by sharing plates. The cocktails here were great and they used a lot of mezcal which I liked a lot. I would say my favorite of the dishes was the burrito with the lobster and it came on a really cool plate. The desserts were yummy and their espresso was really strong. The only downside was the confusion we had towards the end of the meal. Someone in our party ordered a mezcal pairing with their dessert and it wasn't made clear to us that he was only supposed to drink one shot. It was only after he drank more that they told us and we were up charged for that. Other than that it was a lovely meal.
Shanna E.
SO into this place!!!! The food was incredible!! And the cocktails--hands down the best in DC. And I've had a LOT of cocktails in DC. The one thing keeping this from 5 stars is that our waiter had a little bit of a salesman-y pitch to the conversation. I actually had to ask him to stop speaking so quickly with so many details that we didn't need to know. I ask a simple question, I want a simple answer. Now onto the food and drinks. Between two of us, we tried five different cocktails--and we were not disappointed in a single one. I don't even *like* mezcal or tequila, and they nailed balancing its flavor profile with the mixers. And the mixers--they weren't crappy, sweet, fake things--it was REAL juice. I mean, we were blown away. For food--the ceviche in beet broth was delightful and the beet flavor was unexpectedly complimentary. The squash was just heaven in its sauce of nuts and goat cheese and onions. The broccoli in cheese sauce was addictive--we could have honestly ordered another one. And the fried chicken and mole with tortillas and mixed greens was AWESOME. I mean, man that sauce was good and the chicken skin was so CRISPY. For dessert, the peanut butter-chocolate mousse just nailed it--not too sweet, but VERY decadent. Would come back here a million times to get all the other things on the menu. I want the octopus, the cabbage, the lobster-wagyu burrito....
Haley Morrisson
Exceptional. One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Creative dishes with vibrant flavors and outstanding service. Can't wait to return!
Samantha L.
Poca Madre (formerly Del Campo) is an upscale Mexican restaurant in the heart of Penn Quarter neighborhood of DC. On a Friday or Saturday night, it's encouraged to make a reservation in advance as some nights are fully booked and they can't accommodate walk ins. Despite our change in our party size, they originally weren't accommodating but later told us that a party of two had canceled and we could spread a little more. We were curious about the name of the restaurant and learned that it translated to "No one can love you except your mother!" After being seated, they brought us a shot that consisted of mezcal, peach, and jalapeno. It was pink in color and smoky and fruity to taste. Throughout the night, each of us had at least two drinks. Some of my favorites included Hemingway Takes Oaxaxa, Blood In, Blood Out, Campeon, and Ziggy Stardust Margarita. The Hemingway Takes Oaxaca consistes of brown butter washed Oaxacan rum, roasted banana, demerara, and amaro rinse. I liked how it was sweet, fruity, and refreshing. The Blood In, Blood Out consisted of mezcal, campari, house grenadine, and blood orange juice. I liked how it was sweet, fruity, and smoky. The Campeon consisted of mezcal, guava, lemon, ginger, fresno chile, laurel, guava mezcal espuma. I liked how it had a nice balance of sweet and spicy. The Ziggy Stardust Margarita consisted mezcal, lime, agave, and berries. It was served frozen and with a spoon. In my opinion, it was more of a dessert than a drink. Before our dishes came, we were given "chips" and Chile De Arbol Salsa. The chips were crispy corn tortillas. The salsa consisted of charred tomatoes, scallion, chile de arbol, and morita peppers. I liked how the salsa was spicy, smoky, and had a vibrant roasted pepper flavor. For dinner, there were two options: a chef tasting for $68/person (with cocktail and wine pairing for an additional $30/person) or al carte. Being a party of six, our server Mark M. recommended 3-4 quick bites, 2-3 substantial, and 1 shareable entree but we didn't exactly follow the recommendation. All of the dishes were beautifully plated. For quick bites, we shared Hamachi Ceviche, which consisted of hamachi in a sweet hibiscus tea topped with hibiscus salt, garlic, chile serrano, and corn. I liked the combination of ingredients and flavors. For substantials, we shared Taco Del Dia, Roasted Broccoli, Pulpo Laminado, Burrito The King, and Pollo Con Mole. The Taco Del Dia consisted of two soft corn tortillas topped with spicy aioli, wood grilled tender and juicy beef, shredded cabbage, green leaves, and chili threads. The Roasted Broccoli consisted of roasted broccoli, chihuahua queso function, black sesame, and chilies. It was probably the best roasted broccoli I've had in a long time. Most of us experienced a wow! moment. The Pulpo Laminado consisted of sesame seed crusted octopus, cut into three pieces, served in mole blanco and ink pepper jam with sunchoke and pickled jalapeno. I liked how the octopus was crispy and tender and how it was sweet and savory. The Burrito The King consisted of a burrito stuffed with waygu, lobster, caviar, robiola, black truffle, and black beans. The burrito was cut in half and served on an Elvis Presley plate. I felt that the truffle was overpowering and I could not taste anything else in the dish. The Pollo Con Mole consisted of fried chicken, mole nuestro, salsa negra, and chile agave. It was served with warm corn tortillas and greens. The chicken was crispy, tender, and juicy. The mole was sweet and savory and tasted similar to hoisin sauce. For the shareable entree, we shared the Pato Al Pastor, which consisted of slow roasted long island duck, topped with pineapple, onions, and cilantro. It was served with a lime, tangy pineapple sauce, and warm corn tortillas. For dessert, all of us decided to get our own, which included the Caramel Apple Custard, Concha De Miele, Tres Leche, and Oaxacan Chocolate Mousse. The Concha De Miel sounded better than it actually was. It consisted of crispy honey cake soaked
Haydee Rguez Ochoa
Excelente servicio, la comida deliciosa
Veronica Roberts
Simply put, this is one of the best restaurants I've been to in the District of Columbia. I was fortunate enough to intern in Mexico City and have a chance to try out some of the excellent fine dining.With its own flair, Poca Madre is competitive with some of those establishments.It's a very interesting, dark space with cool accents. The bar area is a cool hang out.The food is pricey, no doubt, but almost every plate I've tried has sublime combinations of flavor and style.The fried chicken with mole is a big hit in my eyes.
Luna Bayardo
First time here and everything was great. From the service to the food and especially the craft drinks. It was a wonderful experience and will definitely be back with more friends. Kevin was great.
Veronica J Roberts
Simply put, this is one of the best restaurants I've been to in the District of Columbia. I was fortunate enough to intern in Mexico City and have a chance to try out some of the excellent fine dining.
Lauren Hicks
Drinks and food are amazing. Service can't be beat. Try the bat of pigs and the Madre margarita (I made mine spicy) if you like spicy with sweet do the campero. The duck is absolutely amazing as well as the burrito, chicken mole, the ceviche and everything we tried.
The ambience was quite nice and my wife’s smoked mushroom risotto was rather tasty. But when my $24 entree arrived, I was astonished to find just 3 sad little scallops gazing up at me. Instead of enjoying the meal, I found my thoughts immediately jumping to where in the neighborhood I’d be able to go pick up a burger after I paid my tab. Definitely overpriced... factor that into your decision-making before you venture here.
Silke S.
Three little scallops gazing up at me Oh what did I order To not fill my tummy? Three little scallops How sad you look What kind of rating should I give the cook? Three little scallops A paltry little bunch It only takes a minute Before I end my munch. Three little scallops What do I do next? Watch my wife eat her entree And figure whom to text.
Yaz R.
Awesome experience. Highlighted truly by ending the night with a special taste of their "special" mezcal (ask your waiter!!). Everything was awesome but 4 things for two people was a ton of food. You do not need that many if it's just two people. Ceviche: fresh an a lil spicy. Squash salad: fresh and amazing with really awesome peanut sauce / aioli. Duck tacos were so good and I really don't like duck. But this meat was so tender it didn't taste as weird as duck breast does. However the portion was enough for 4 people. Grits were awesome and spicy. Everything was spicy in some Degree including cocktails. Vibes were way chill and super crowded! Would def say I'd come back it was great!
Andrea Velazquez Sanchez
Nice decoration, great food. Attention to detail. I am Mexican and they really honor our food. Great Place for a date, celebration or special occasion.
Darron Berquist
Creative dishes with excellent presentation. Good flavor pairings (had the charred cabbage, and scallops dishes). Service was decent.
Went here for my birthday this year and did the "Taco Omakase", which was a 12 course taco tasting menu. A few dishes were tostada's or other takes on them, but tacos more or less. Overall it was really good. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of any of the 3 mixed drinks I got. They were decent, but none were standout to me. The dishes were all really good. One of the standouts, which was a surprise to me, was the hominy grits. Mainly since it was vegetarian, and I am a carnivore to the bone. The mole was also really good. All in all it was worth trying. I'm not sure I would go back to it based on price vs just going to bamba to get tacos. I would probably try a few other dishes on the regular menu that sounded good.
They had some really unique and delicious food here. Me and my friends tried a lot of their dishes by sharing plates. The cocktails here were great and they used a lot of mezcal which I liked a lot. I would say my favorite of the dishes was the burrito with the lobster and it came on a really cool plate. The desserts were yummy and their espresso was really strong. The only downside was the confusion we had towards the end of the meal. Someone in our party ordered a mezcal pairing with their dessert and it wasn't made clear to us that he was only supposed to drink one shot. It was only after he drank more that they told us and we were up charged for that. Other than that it was a lovely meal.
SO into this place!!!! The food was incredible!! And the cocktails--hands down the best in DC. And I've had a LOT of cocktails in DC. The one thing keeping this from 5 stars is that our waiter had a little bit of a salesman-y pitch to the conversation. I actually had to ask him to stop speaking so quickly with so many details that we didn't need to know. I ask a simple question, I want a simple answer. Now onto the food and drinks. Between two of us, we tried five different cocktails--and we were not disappointed in a single one. I don't even *like* mezcal or tequila, and they nailed balancing its flavor profile with the mixers. And the mixers--they weren't crappy, sweet, fake things--it was REAL juice. I mean, we were blown away. For food--the ceviche in beet broth was delightful and the beet flavor was unexpectedly complimentary. The squash was just heaven in its sauce of nuts and goat cheese and onions. The broccoli in cheese sauce was addictive--we could have honestly ordered another one. And the fried chicken and mole with tortillas and mixed greens was AWESOME. I mean, man that sauce was good and the chicken skin was so CRISPY. For dessert, the peanut butter-chocolate mousse just nailed it--not too sweet, but VERY decadent. Would come back here a million times to get all the other things on the menu. I want the octopus, the cabbage, the lobster-wagyu burrito....
Exceptional. One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Creative dishes with vibrant flavors and outstanding service. Can't wait to return!
Poca Madre (formerly Del Campo) is an upscale Mexican restaurant in the heart of Penn Quarter neighborhood of DC. On a Friday or Saturday night, it's encouraged to make a reservation in advance as some nights are fully booked and they can't accommodate walk ins. Despite our change in our party size, they originally weren't accommodating but later told us that a party of two had canceled and we could spread a little more. We were curious about the name of the restaurant and learned that it translated to "No one can love you except your mother!" After being seated, they brought us a shot that consisted of mezcal, peach, and jalapeno. It was pink in color and smoky and fruity to taste. Throughout the night, each of us had at least two drinks. Some of my favorites included Hemingway Takes Oaxaxa, Blood In, Blood Out, Campeon, and Ziggy Stardust Margarita. The Hemingway Takes Oaxaca consistes of brown butter washed Oaxacan rum, roasted banana, demerara, and amaro rinse. I liked how it was sweet, fruity, and refreshing. The Blood In, Blood Out consisted of mezcal, campari, house grenadine, and blood orange juice. I liked how it was sweet, fruity, and smoky. The Campeon consisted of mezcal, guava, lemon, ginger, fresno chile, laurel, guava mezcal espuma. I liked how it had a nice balance of sweet and spicy. The Ziggy Stardust Margarita consisted mezcal, lime, agave, and berries. It was served frozen and with a spoon. In my opinion, it was more of a dessert than a drink. Before our dishes came, we were given "chips" and Chile De Arbol Salsa. The chips were crispy corn tortillas. The salsa consisted of charred tomatoes, scallion, chile de arbol, and morita peppers. I liked how the salsa was spicy, smoky, and had a vibrant roasted pepper flavor. For dinner, there were two options: a chef tasting for $68/person (with cocktail and wine pairing for an additional $30/person) or al carte. Being a party of six, our server Mark M. recommended 3-4 quick bites, 2-3 substantial, and 1 shareable entree but we didn't exactly follow the recommendation. All of the dishes were beautifully plated. For quick bites, we shared Hamachi Ceviche, which consisted of hamachi in a sweet hibiscus tea topped with hibiscus salt, garlic, chile serrano, and corn. I liked the combination of ingredients and flavors. For substantials, we shared Taco Del Dia, Roasted Broccoli, Pulpo Laminado, Burrito The King, and Pollo Con Mole. The Taco Del Dia consisted of two soft corn tortillas topped with spicy aioli, wood grilled tender and juicy beef, shredded cabbage, green leaves, and chili threads. The Roasted Broccoli consisted of roasted broccoli, chihuahua queso function, black sesame, and chilies. It was probably the best roasted broccoli I've had in a long time. Most of us experienced a wow! moment. The Pulpo Laminado consisted of sesame seed crusted octopus, cut into three pieces, served in mole blanco and ink pepper jam with sunchoke and pickled jalapeno. I liked how the octopus was crispy and tender and how it was sweet and savory. The Burrito The King consisted of a burrito stuffed with waygu, lobster, caviar, robiola, black truffle, and black beans. The burrito was cut in half and served on an Elvis Presley plate. I felt that the truffle was overpowering and I could not taste anything else in the dish. The Pollo Con Mole consisted of fried chicken, mole nuestro, salsa negra, and chile agave. It was served with warm corn tortillas and greens. The chicken was crispy, tender, and juicy. The mole was sweet and savory and tasted similar to hoisin sauce. For the shareable entree, we shared the Pato Al Pastor, which consisted of slow roasted long island duck, topped with pineapple, onions, and cilantro. It was served with a lime, tangy pineapple sauce, and warm corn tortillas. For dessert, all of us decided to get our own, which included the Caramel Apple Custard, Concha De Miele, Tres Leche, and Oaxacan Chocolate Mousse. The Concha De Miel sounded better than it actually was. It consisted of crispy honey cake soaked
Excelente servicio, la comida deliciosa
Simply put, this is one of the best restaurants I've been to in the District of Columbia. I was fortunate enough to intern in Mexico City and have a chance to try out some of the excellent fine dining.With its own flair, Poca Madre is competitive with some of those establishments.It's a very interesting, dark space with cool accents. The bar area is a cool hang out.The food is pricey, no doubt, but almost every plate I've tried has sublime combinations of flavor and style.The fried chicken with mole is a big hit in my eyes.
First time here and everything was great. From the service to the food and especially the craft drinks. It was a wonderful experience and will definitely be back with more friends. Kevin was great.
Simply put, this is one of the best restaurants I've been to in the District of Columbia. I was fortunate enough to intern in Mexico City and have a chance to try out some of the excellent fine dining.
Drinks and food are amazing. Service can't be beat. Try the bat of pigs and the Madre margarita (I made mine spicy) if you like spicy with sweet do the campero. The duck is absolutely amazing as well as the burrito, chicken mole, the ceviche and everything we tried.
Restaurantji Recommends
The ambience was quite nice and my wife’s smoked mushroom risotto was rather tasty. But when my $24 entree arrived, I was astonished to find just 3 sad little scallops gazing up at me. Instead of enjoying the meal, I found my thoughts immediately jumping to where in the neighborhood I’d be able to go pick up a burger after I paid my tab. Definitely overpriced... factor that into your decision-making before you venture here.
Three little scallops gazing up at me Oh what did I order To not fill my tummy? Three little scallops How sad you look What kind of rating should I give the cook? Three little scallops A paltry little bunch It only takes a minute Before I end my munch. Three little scallops What do I do next? Watch my wife eat her entree And figure whom to text.
Awesome experience. Highlighted truly by ending the night with a special taste of their "special" mezcal (ask your waiter!!). Everything was awesome but 4 things for two people was a ton of food. You do not need that many if it's just two people. Ceviche: fresh an a lil spicy. Squash salad: fresh and amazing with really awesome peanut sauce / aioli. Duck tacos were so good and I really don't like duck. But this meat was so tender it didn't taste as weird as duck breast does. However the portion was enough for 4 people. Grits were awesome and spicy. Everything was spicy in some Degree including cocktails. Vibes were way chill and super crowded! Would def say I'd come back it was great!
Nice decoration, great food. Attention to detail. I am Mexican and they really honor our food. Great Place for a date, celebration or special occasion.
Creative dishes with excellent presentation. Good flavor pairings (had the charred cabbage, and scallops dishes). Service was decent.