Amazing amazing 1 Michelin star restaurant. I want to say out of all the dishes, only 1 was not amazing. Everything else was superb and that's surprising. Usually you have a couple that are ok or average and some that are amazing.
Servers were very attentive and the chef himself came out to describe some of the dishes. It's very refreshing to see the chef/owner actually cooking and not just on the pass.
Only negative was the parking but that's to be expected of DC.
Definitely will be coming back.
Sara P
Honestly the dishes were interesting but the balance was off Way too salty or sweet Combinations were interesting and beautifully presented, but nothing was tasty enough to be memorable Outstanding service and simple (elegant casual) atmosphere the chef came out, talked and was very friendly as well
AC Slater
Overall a nice experience. Service was interactive and personal, very intimate setting. Loved the scallop and amberjack bites, but the Carolina Gold rice and sunchoke dessert were by far the biggest hits of the night.
Butter Toast
Just ate at Reverie 3/29/25. Here goes to those about to spend 1k on a special dinner. Quick summary: The food was highly disappointing. The service was exceptional and the wine pairing we loved. My drink that was made outside of the actual menu was great. For the food, with the exception of the scallop snack at the beginning, octopus taco, and dessert we found the rest of the food to be almost uneatable. The food did not taste good, period, mostly it lacked flavor. Service: Spot on. Wine, drinks, and sommelier: excellent! Food: we were struggling to understand how this received a Michelin star. As background, we love a special occasion dinner and have been to Minibar, Little Pearl, Tail Up Goat, Volt, Barmini (a bar with snacks only, but amazing) and although not Michelin rated, Joe’s Steak and Seafood is a staple for us for an awesome dinner out. At Reverie, we got the Reverie Menu + wine pairing (Women’s wine and traditional). Women’s won for those curious. The courses started with “snacks” - didn’t finish lamb or cheese dish bc we just didn’t like them. The mussel sandwich was good. We took a few bites of the rice dish and the fish dish, but just really didn’t like them - lacked flavor, hardly ate either. We even were kind of so-so on the bread and butter that was served… it’s hard for us to turn away from bread! The avocado dish was okay, one of us ate it, but ultimately, it was a half a charcoal flavored avocado with a sauce. We thoroughly enjoyed the ice cream dish. The octopus taco was nice. That’s about all the good I can say about the food, unfortunately. The atmosphere and service were great and I do hope their success continues, we just didn’t get the appeal or reviews of the food. Don’t get me wrong, we love some food, but as we looked at our $1,100+ bill we both said, “what a bummer of a meal, but the wine was good”. And then we both felt a little gross for wasting that kind of money on that meal.. and went and grabbed some pizza to fill us up.
Arya Etebarian
Unbelievable complex food. It’s by far the best food experience my wife and I had. It’s transformative. The pairings are also incredible, whether you get the alcoholic or non-alcoholic.
The service is fantastic with extremely knowledgeable staff.
This restaurant is a truly gem and people need to know about it. I cannot recommend it enough.
Ben Batman
Went here for a company dinner the other day. Have to say absolutely fantastic. Johnny spero (or as I like to call him Jack sparrow) and crew make some incredible food there, not to mention the stellar service we received.
I’ll be real, I didn’t understand most of the words they said about the dishes but the taste was unrivaled. Some of the best seafood dishes I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve never been to them for a regular dinner but based on my experience there, I would highly recommend. You won’t be disappointed.
The staff presented tasting notes along with every dish so if you knew fancy food words you could fully appreciate all the tasting notes being represented there.
Peter Yeung
My wife and I were excited for a date night without our toddler at Reverie, expecting a fine dining experience. The service was excellent, but we were shocked to discover multiple live worms swimming in the fresh catch of the day (cod) dish—after already consuming about half of it.
The manager and staff were professional and handled the situation as best as they could, given how unexpected and unsettling this was for everyone. The manager explained that the worms were “safe” and offered to comp our beverage pairings, but after speaking with healthcare professionals, we now understand that there is no guarantee that undercooked cod with live parasites is safe. While we appreciate the manager’s attempt to address the situation, we were still left with serious concerns about the restaurant’s food safety practices.
The fact that this happened at a Michelin-starred establishment is beyond disappointing. At this level of dining, there should be rigorous inspection and preparation standards to prevent such an incident. While we understand that the staff may not have known how to react in the moment, the most disappointing part was the complete lack of response from Chef Johnny Spero. Given the intimate setting of the restaurant, we expected him to at least acknowledge the issue and take responsibility, but he did not address us at all.
We are still in shock and hoping we do not experience any health consequences from this. We are sharing this review not out of anger, but in the hope that the restaurant implements stricter food safety precautions in the future.
That said, the service from the manager and staff was excellent, and we recognize that this situation was as unexpected for them as it was for us. We are providing an extra star in recognition of their professionalism, even though we remain deeply disappointed by the lack of action and accountability from Chef Spero.
Scott Walters
The food was incredible and the staff is truly the best. You must try out Reverie!
Regina Purnell
I had the chicken Alfredo. Awesome flavor, enormous portions.
Claire Wilder
Chef Johnny's culinary excellence and passion for food is the reason Reverie is an absolute STANDOUT for my husband and I. It’s a must-try for anyone seeking inventive fine dining that celebrates the best of what each season has to offer. His creativity and dedication to seasonal, thoughtfully sourced ingredients leaves you in awe and should absolutely be the special occasion place you venture to next. We love fine dining and our experiences at Reverie always exceed our expectations.
We found street parking fairly easily and we were about 20 minutes early but they sat us right away. They offer coat check as well and provide a little stool for your bag. One of the pricier Michelins but the seafood provided definitely makes it worth it. It does get pricey with the additional 22% service charge.
I think we loved everything except for the halibut. That was the only item that I felt like didn't quite live up to the rest of the course. There was an octopus diah that was beautifully cookes but seemed to lack just a little salt and something acidic. Everything else was delicious and had amazing individual components. Super friendly team and the chef came to the table as well a couple of times. We loved the uni rice and this AMAZING fried fish and the desserts were beautiful. They had this one dessert that was like a chocolate Madeleine and it was so good.
Loved the atmosphere and wonderful service. I would absolutely recommend coming here to celebrate my brother's birthday.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Mayberg
A refined dining experience featuring quality ingredients, expert preparation, and outstanding service. Each bite feels like a unique journey, and the flavor pairings are bold. Be prepared for challenging and unfamiliar flavors that will have you pause and reflect on the meticulous detail and artistic flair. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure your comfort and enjoyment during your two and a half hour experience. It is well worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Edith Valdes
One of a kind experience. I absolutely recommend this place. Very knowledgeable and friendly chefs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nora L
The best of the best. Such a unique & special delicious experience. The food, the staff, the vibe - all next level. One of the most memorable meals I’ve had. I’ll be dreaming of it all.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mackerel, Scallop, Duck Breast
David
Truly exceptional in every way ! Felt like I landed in Spain and dined at a 3 Michelin Star Restaurant . Seafood focused tasting menu that truly delivers. Service is impeccable and genuine . My too recommend for sure !
Amazing amazing 1 Michelin star restaurant. I want to say out of all the dishes, only 1 was not amazing. Everything else was superb and that's surprising. Usually you have a couple that are ok or average and some that are amazing.
Servers were very attentive and the chef himself came out to describe some of the dishes. It's very refreshing to see the chef/owner actually cooking and not just on the pass.
Only negative was the parking but that's to be expected of DC.
Definitely will be coming back.
Honestly the dishes were interesting but the balance was off
Way too salty or sweet
Combinations were interesting and beautifully presented, but nothing was tasty enough to be memorable
Outstanding service and simple (elegant casual) atmosphere
the chef came out, talked and was very friendly as well
Overall a nice experience. Service was interactive and personal, very intimate setting. Loved the scallop and amberjack bites, but the Carolina Gold rice and sunchoke dessert were by far the biggest hits of the night.
Just ate at Reverie 3/29/25. Here goes to those about to spend 1k on a special dinner. Quick summary: The food was highly disappointing. The service was exceptional and the wine pairing we loved. My drink that was made outside of the actual menu was great. For the food, with the exception of the scallop snack at the beginning, octopus taco, and dessert we found the rest of the food to be almost uneatable. The food did not taste good, period, mostly it lacked flavor. Service: Spot on. Wine, drinks, and sommelier: excellent! Food: we were struggling to understand how this received a Michelin star. As background, we love a special occasion dinner and have been to Minibar, Little Pearl, Tail Up Goat, Volt, Barmini (a bar with snacks only, but amazing) and although not Michelin rated, Joe’s Steak and Seafood is a staple for us for an awesome dinner out. At Reverie, we got the Reverie Menu + wine pairing (Women’s wine and traditional). Women’s won for those curious. The courses started with “snacks” - didn’t finish lamb or cheese dish bc we just didn’t like them. The mussel sandwich was good. We took a few bites of the rice dish and the fish dish, but just really didn’t like them - lacked flavor, hardly ate either. We even were kind of so-so on the bread and butter that was served… it’s hard for us to turn away from bread! The avocado dish was okay, one of us ate it, but ultimately, it was a half a charcoal flavored avocado with a sauce. We thoroughly enjoyed the ice cream dish. The octopus taco was nice. That’s about all the good I can say about the food, unfortunately. The atmosphere and service were great and I do hope their success continues, we just didn’t get the appeal or reviews of the food. Don’t get me wrong, we love some food, but as we looked at our $1,100+ bill we both said, “what a bummer of a meal, but the wine was good”. And then we both felt a little gross for wasting that kind of money on that meal.. and went and grabbed some pizza to fill us up.
Unbelievable complex food. It’s by far the best food experience my wife and I had. It’s transformative. The pairings are also incredible, whether you get the alcoholic or non-alcoholic.
The service is fantastic with extremely knowledgeable staff.
This restaurant is a truly gem and people need to know about it. I cannot recommend it enough.
Went here for a company dinner the other day. Have to say absolutely fantastic. Johnny spero (or as I like to call him Jack sparrow) and crew make some incredible food there, not to mention the stellar service we received.
I’ll be real, I didn’t understand most of the words they said about the dishes but the taste was unrivaled. Some of the best seafood dishes I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve never been to them for a regular dinner but based on my experience there, I would highly recommend. You won’t be disappointed.
The staff presented tasting notes along with every dish so if you knew fancy food words you could fully appreciate all the tasting notes being represented there.
My wife and I were excited for a date night without our toddler at Reverie, expecting a fine dining experience. The service was excellent, but we were shocked to discover multiple live worms swimming in the fresh catch of the day (cod) dish—after already consuming about half of it.
The manager and staff were professional and handled the situation as best as they could, given how unexpected and unsettling this was for everyone. The manager explained that the worms were “safe” and offered to comp our beverage pairings, but after speaking with healthcare professionals, we now understand that there is no guarantee that undercooked cod with live parasites is safe. While we appreciate the manager’s attempt to address the situation, we were still left with serious concerns about the restaurant’s food safety practices.
The fact that this happened at a Michelin-starred establishment is beyond disappointing. At this level of dining, there should be rigorous inspection and preparation standards to prevent such an incident. While we understand that the staff may not have known how to react in the moment, the most disappointing part was the complete lack of response from Chef Johnny Spero. Given the intimate setting of the restaurant, we expected him to at least acknowledge the issue and take responsibility, but he did not address us at all.
We are still in shock and hoping we do not experience any health consequences from this. We are sharing this review not out of anger, but in the hope that the restaurant implements stricter food safety precautions in the future.
That said, the service from the manager and staff was excellent, and we recognize that this situation was as unexpected for them as it was for us. We are providing an extra star in recognition of their professionalism, even though we remain deeply disappointed by the lack of action and accountability from Chef Spero.
The food was incredible and the staff is truly the best. You must try out Reverie!
I had the chicken Alfredo. Awesome flavor, enormous portions.
Chef Johnny's culinary excellence and passion for food is the reason Reverie is an absolute STANDOUT for my husband and I. It’s a must-try for anyone seeking inventive fine dining that celebrates the best of what each season has to offer. His creativity and dedication to seasonal, thoughtfully sourced ingredients leaves you in awe and should absolutely be the special occasion place you venture to next. We love fine dining and our experiences at Reverie always exceed our expectations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We found street parking fairly easily and we were about 20 minutes early but they sat us right away. They offer coat check as well and provide a little stool for your bag. One of the pricier Michelins but the seafood provided definitely makes it worth it. It does get pricey with the additional 22% service charge.
I think we loved everything except for the halibut. That was the only item that I felt like didn't quite live up to the rest of the course. There was an octopus diah that was beautifully cookes but seemed to lack just a little salt and something acidic. Everything else was delicious and had amazing individual components. Super friendly team and the chef came to the table as well a couple of times. We loved the uni rice and this AMAZING fried fish and the desserts were beautiful. They had this one dessert that was like a chocolate Madeleine and it was so good.
Loved the atmosphere and wonderful service. I would absolutely recommend coming here to celebrate my brother's birthday.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A refined dining experience featuring quality ingredients, expert preparation, and outstanding service. Each bite feels like a unique journey, and the flavor pairings are bold. Be prepared for challenging and unfamiliar flavors that will have you pause and reflect on the meticulous detail and artistic flair. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure your comfort and enjoyment during your two and a half hour experience. It is well worth a visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of a kind experience. I absolutely recommend this place. Very knowledgeable and friendly chefs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best of the best. Such a unique & special delicious experience. The food, the staff, the vibe - all next level. One of the most memorable meals I’ve had. I’ll be dreaming of it all.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mackerel, Scallop, Duck Breast
Truly exceptional in every way ! Felt like I landed in Spain and dined at a 3 Michelin Star Restaurant . Seafood focused tasting menu that truly delivers. Service is impeccable and genuine . My too recommend for sure !
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