Perfect dining experience. Delicious food, beautiful view, and Stefanie could not have taken better care of us. They brought us a round of fizz to celebrate my dad’s birthday, we watched the sun set by the Capitol building, then moved inside for a fantastic meal. Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Artichoke Dip, Burger, Braised Short Rib
Tiffany Williams
My salad was excellent. Drinks were mid...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Devlin Kostal
I’ll start by being nice: the venue itself is beautiful and the view is great. That’s about it.
There is a LOT of security in and around the restaurant. Not sure what’s going on there.
So the evening started with parking, where despite having a paid spothero, the valet - who was working by himself on a Friday night - said he wasn’t sure he had space.
On the elevator ride up, a guy was telling his date “yeah, this place is a total one-drink vibe, then we’ll head out to Georgetown.”
After that, we began the dinner with a server who had no clue whether or not the kitchen had anything gluten-free (one of our party is very allergic), and then proceeded to bring drinks one at a time over about 15 minutes. He had no knowledge of anything on the wine list or what the bar currently had for whiskey.
Appetizers started pretty well; the deviled eggs were a little overboiled but the filling was good - definitely recommend the pickled ones, very tasty. The cheesy tots are also tasty, although you need to eat them quick before they harden up. And the fried potstickers were also super good.
The entrees were a bit more miss than hit. The NY strip was undercooked and gristly, and served with an oddly cloyingly sweet sauce that just overwhelmed everything, in addition to being covered in a super salty herb butter to make sure you can’t taste anything else. The burger got several “meh”s around the table, and the braised short rib - which, to be clear, is the simplest thing to get right - was tough and underseasoned.
The menu is not built for an actual dinner - there’s like one of everything: a steak, a burger, two salads, and a bunch of appetizers… it’s absolutely a “have a drink and go somewhere else” kind of a place, like the guy said.
Definitely come here in the summer to have a drink with a view, and then go somewhere else to eat.
Dietary restrictions: Not really applicable. Or at least the waiter was uninformed. But realistically not the place you go for a specialty meal, and in fairness to them, they’re not trying to be that.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Pot Stickers
Nefertari Muhammad
Great option to enjoy a view and a vibe. Beautiful rooftop views of DC.
Customer service was amazing. I got the tater tots with smoked Gouda, and the fish sandwich for my entree, soo good. For a cocktail option I recommend the espresso martini.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tater Tots
Jaisie
I recently discovered Smoke & Mirrors, and it's quickly become one of my favorite spots in town. This cozy yet chic lounge offers an ambiance that's perfect for unwinding after a long day or catching up with friends over drinks. What sets Smoke & Mirrors apart is their fantastic happy hour deals, making it a go-to destination for affordable yet high-quality cocktails. From classic concoctions to inventive creations, their drink menu has something for everyone, and during happy hour, you can enjoy these libations at a steal. But it's not just the drinks that impress – Smoke & Mirrors also offers a tantalizing selection of late-night bites, perfect for satisfying those post-drink cravings. Whether you're in the mood for savory sliders, crispy fries, or indulgent charcuterie boards, their menu has you covered. Plus, the service is always top-notch, with friendly staff who go above and beyond to ensure a great experience. Whether you're looking for a laid-back spot to enjoy happy hour with friends or a late-night hangout for some delicious bites, Smoke & Mirrors is definitely worth checking out. I can't wait to return and sample more of their tasty offerings!
Follow my IG account for Curated Google Maps list for brunch, happy hours, rooftops, parks, wineries & more in the DMV area: @yourdmvbestie
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wings N Mumbo Sauce, Chicken Wings
Lidia Kosenkova
They are open till 11pm. I do not know why they lie on their webpage. After 11pm no one helps you with the elevator. So, staff from the restaurant just left at 11pm. People at the front desk is extremely rude and do not want to help you.
Graysen Wonder
Not worth the time the money or the effort. No customer service terrible overpriced drinks and no heaters for outside guests. No idea how this place garnered 4 stars. Do not recommend the time to access this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Rachel
We arrived and the front desk staff told us that a server would come to take our food order, but for drinks, we would need to order at the bar. I thought, "Okay, no problem; we’re not here for drinks anyway." We sat down at our table, but after 15 minutes, no one had approached us. We had to ask another server what was going on. She checked and then the manager came over, telling us that we’d need to go to the bar to place our order. While we were disappointed, we went ahead and ordered our drinks and food at the bar. After ordering, we sat down and waited. 20-30 minutes passed, and we still didn’t have our food. We asked another server about the delay, and he went to check and finally brought out our food. Unfortunately, the food was awful — literally 0/10. It was so bad, we could have gotten something better from McDonald's. I had ordered a Caesar salad, but the dressing was already mixed in, which I wasn’t informed would happen. How could they know how much dressing I’d want? Why not bring it on the side? That was really frustrating. Our water was also empty, and we had to practically chase down a server to get a refill. When he finally came to refill it, he spilled water on me and didn’t offer any assistance in cleaning it up. Overall, the food was terrible, the service was extremely poor, and the atmosphere wasn’t great either. We ended up spending over $100, and honestly, I would recommend going somewhere else.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Purvis Alexander
Our bartender Edwin was top tier! He’s a true mixologist.
I wish I could give six stars for the service — it was just amazing! They knew that my birthday was next week (from my ID) and bought me a slice of cake!! So kind of them to do 😊😊
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Niky Bihms
No issues with food and service. Drinks were great. Fruit flies at a table near the bar were overwhelming. This is avoidable and it speaks to the cleanliness of the bar.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 5
D Cook
Reviews seemed sufficient. But it ended there. Poor (rude) service, poor food, average drinks and more self-service than necessary. Went twice because thought the first time may have been bad luck. But, nope, this place is not worth the visit. Find the same or better views elsewhere. Won’t be hard to find better drinks and food. And service? Choose between bad service or none at all - that’s all Smoke & Mirrors had to offer.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
James Caruso
A big disappointment. My wife made a reservation, asking for a table with a view because it’s our friend’s last night before leaving for military training. We got there, and they hadn’t read our reservation request, and sat us at a low table outside where you couldn’t see anything. The tables are so low to the ground that it felt like a kids table in a doctor’s office. The table we wanted was open, so we asked to move. At first the hostess said yes and allowed us to move. That seat was awesome and had a great view. A few minutes after, the hostess came back and said sorry but they had a bigger party coming so we had to move back to the other table. Guess what? That party never showed up. When our friend asked the host about it before we left, she said as much with a flippant attitude.
Well, we ordered our drinks and a few appetizers. One cocktail, one Sherly Temple, and one double of Don Julio Blanco on the rocks. The appetizers were the Brussels Sprouts, Truffle Fries, and Artichoke Crab Dip. It felt like the drinks took forever. The appetizers came out before the drinks (which is a sin in the hospitality industry), and we asked the food runner if she could check on them. The food runner said she would and brought the drinks herself a couple minutes later.
The food was very good and I thought the one cocktail my wife ordered was really good. The service, however, continued to disappoint. I was ready for a second round of my drink, which would have added $32 to the bill. Our friend also wanted to order a dessert. But we sat there for way too long waiting for our server to come back. I asked the food runner again if I could order another drink with her; she said I couldn’t but she can let our server know and send her our way. Even after that, it was probably 15 minutes before we saw the server again, and she didn’t seem to have a clue. So we decided to get the check and leave.
The check came by another food runner. I put my card down and it sat there for probably at least 5 minutes. That food runner picked it up for the server again, ran the card, and brought it back, but did not bring any pen. So I used a pen our friend had in her purse.
In conclusion, the food is great; but you have to be very patient and have a low standards for service.
Perfect dining experience. Delicious food, beautiful view, and Stefanie could not have taken better care of us. They brought us a round of fizz to celebrate my dad’s birthday, we watched the sun set by the Capitol building, then moved inside for a fantastic meal. Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Artichoke Dip, Burger, Braised Short Rib
My salad was excellent. Drinks were mid...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ll start by being nice: the venue itself is beautiful and the view is great. That’s about it.
There is a LOT of security in and around the restaurant. Not sure what’s going on there.
So the evening started with parking, where despite having a paid spothero, the valet - who was working by himself on a Friday night - said he wasn’t sure he had space.
On the elevator ride up, a guy was telling his date “yeah, this place is a total one-drink vibe, then we’ll head out to Georgetown.”
After that, we began the dinner with a server who had no clue whether or not the kitchen had anything gluten-free (one of our party is very allergic), and then proceeded to bring drinks one at a time over about 15 minutes. He had no knowledge of anything on the wine list or what the bar currently had for whiskey.
Appetizers started pretty well; the deviled eggs were a little overboiled but the filling was good - definitely recommend the pickled ones, very tasty. The cheesy tots are also tasty, although you need to eat them quick before they harden up. And the fried potstickers were also super good.
The entrees were a bit more miss than hit. The NY strip was undercooked and gristly, and served with an oddly cloyingly sweet sauce that just overwhelmed everything, in addition to being covered in a super salty herb butter to make sure you can’t taste anything else. The burger got several “meh”s around the table, and the braised short rib - which, to be clear, is the simplest thing to get right - was tough and underseasoned.
The menu is not built for an actual dinner - there’s like one of everything: a steak, a burger, two salads, and a bunch of appetizers… it’s absolutely a “have a drink and go somewhere else” kind of a place, like the guy said.
Definitely come here in the summer to have a drink with a view, and then go somewhere else to eat.
Dietary restrictions: Not really applicable. Or at least the waiter was uninformed. But realistically not the place you go for a specialty meal, and in fairness to them, they’re not trying to be that.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Pot Stickers
Great option to enjoy a view and a vibe. Beautiful rooftop views of DC.
Customer service was amazing. I got the tater tots with smoked Gouda, and the fish sandwich for my entree, soo good. For a cocktail option I recommend the espresso martini.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tater Tots
I recently discovered Smoke & Mirrors, and it's quickly become one of my favorite spots in town. This cozy yet chic lounge offers an ambiance that's perfect for unwinding after a long day or catching up with friends over drinks. What sets Smoke & Mirrors apart is their fantastic happy hour deals, making it a go-to destination for affordable yet high-quality cocktails. From classic concoctions to inventive creations, their drink menu has something for everyone, and during happy hour, you can enjoy these libations at a steal. But it's not just the drinks that impress – Smoke & Mirrors also offers a tantalizing selection of late-night bites, perfect for satisfying those post-drink cravings. Whether you're in the mood for savory sliders, crispy fries, or indulgent charcuterie boards, their menu has you covered. Plus, the service is always top-notch, with friendly staff who go above and beyond to ensure a great experience. Whether you're looking for a laid-back spot to enjoy happy hour with friends or a late-night hangout for some delicious bites, Smoke & Mirrors is definitely worth checking out. I can't wait to return and sample more of their tasty offerings!
Follow my IG account for Curated Google Maps list for brunch, happy hours, rooftops, parks, wineries & more in the DMV area: @yourdmvbestie
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wings N Mumbo Sauce, Chicken Wings
They are open till 11pm. I do not know why they lie on their webpage. After 11pm no one helps you with the elevator. So, staff from the restaurant just left at 11pm. People at the front desk is extremely rude and do not want to help you.
Not worth the time the money or the effort. No customer service terrible overpriced drinks and no heaters for outside guests. No idea how this place garnered 4 stars. Do not recommend the time to access this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
We arrived and the front desk staff told us that a server would come to take our food order, but for drinks, we would need to order at the bar. I thought, "Okay, no problem; we’re not here for drinks anyway." We sat down at our table, but after 15 minutes, no one had approached us. We had to ask another server what was going on. She checked and then the manager came over, telling us that we’d need to go to the bar to place our order. While we were disappointed, we went ahead and ordered our drinks and food at the bar. After ordering, we sat down and waited. 20-30 minutes passed, and we still didn’t have our food. We asked another server about the delay, and he went to check and finally brought out our food. Unfortunately, the food was awful — literally 0/10. It was so bad, we could have gotten something better from McDonald's. I had ordered a Caesar salad, but the dressing was already mixed in, which I wasn’t informed would happen. How could they know how much dressing I’d want? Why not bring it on the side? That was really frustrating. Our water was also empty, and we had to practically chase down a server to get a refill. When he finally came to refill it, he spilled water on me and didn’t offer any assistance in cleaning it up. Overall, the food was terrible, the service was extremely poor, and the atmosphere wasn’t great either. We ended up spending over $100, and honestly, I would recommend going somewhere else.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Our bartender Edwin was top tier! He’s a true mixologist.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Truffle Fries, Chicken Wings, Lemon Drop, Shrimp Tacos
Absolutely stellar customer service in a place with a great atmosphere. Will be coming back as soon as possible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Birthday Cake
Restaurantji Recommends
I wish I could give six stars for the service — it was just amazing! They knew that my birthday was next week (from my ID) and bought me a slice of cake!! So kind of them to do 😊😊
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
No issues with food and service. Drinks were great. Fruit flies at a table near the bar were overwhelming. This is avoidable and it speaks to the cleanliness of the bar.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 5
Reviews seemed sufficient. But it ended there. Poor (rude) service, poor food, average drinks and more self-service than necessary. Went twice because thought the first time
may have been bad luck. But, nope, this place is not worth the visit. Find the same or better views elsewhere. Won’t be hard to find better drinks and food. And service? Choose between bad service or none at all - that’s all Smoke & Mirrors had to offer.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
A big disappointment. My wife made a reservation, asking for a table with a view because it’s our friend’s last night before leaving for military training. We got there, and they hadn’t read our reservation request, and sat us at a low table outside where you couldn’t see anything. The tables are so low to the ground that it felt like a kids table in a doctor’s office. The table we wanted was open, so we asked to move. At first the hostess said yes and allowed us to move. That seat was awesome and had a great view. A few minutes after, the hostess came back and said sorry but they had a bigger party coming so we had to move back to the other table. Guess what? That party never showed up. When our friend asked the host about it before we left, she said as much with a flippant attitude.
Well, we ordered our drinks and a few appetizers. One cocktail, one Sherly Temple, and one double of Don Julio Blanco on the rocks. The appetizers were the Brussels Sprouts, Truffle Fries, and Artichoke Crab Dip. It felt like the drinks took forever. The appetizers came out before the drinks (which is a sin in the hospitality industry), and we asked the food runner if she could check on them. The food runner said she would and brought the drinks herself a couple minutes later.
The food was very good and I thought the one cocktail my wife ordered was really good. The service, however, continued to disappoint. I was ready for a second round of my drink, which would have added $32 to the bill. Our friend also wanted to order a dessert. But we sat there for way too long waiting for our server to come back. I asked the food runner again if I could order another drink with her; she said I couldn’t but she can let our server know and send her our way. Even after that, it was probably 15 minutes before we saw the server again, and she didn’t seem to have a clue. So we decided to get the check and leave.
The check came by another food runner. I put my card down and it sat there for probably at least 5 minutes. That food runner picked it up for the server again, ran the card, and brought it back, but did not bring any pen. So I used a pen our friend had in her purse.
In conclusion, the food is great; but you have to be very patient and have a low standards for service.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Truffle Fries, Crab Artichoke Dip
Very classy. Amazing views at night. Romantic vibes. Would definitely go again!!!!
Loading...