Behind the modest exterior, an immersive culinary journey awaits! Every foodie traveler enjoys 'the find' - a place you don't expect but allows you to join the curated journey of an exceptional chef and his team. Xiquet is one of DC's few true finds, tucked away in a small neighborhood but standing tall in the burgeoning DC dining scene. It is one of those rare places in an otherwise hypertensive town where time becomes ephemeral, and you can truly give in to enjoying artistry for its own sake and within its own parameters.Since Chef Danny changes his menu constantly, based on inspiration and availability of high quality ingredients, check their site for the latest, and definitely allow them to pair their wines, ports, vermouths, etc. to achieve 'peak flavour'.Our experience, a special occasion for my wife and me, was - to use one word - blissful! And equally importantly, relaxed - as visits to special places like Xiquet and its Michelin-starred siblings like Rose's Luxury, Jaunt and Inn at Little Washington should be.Make the time, take the time, and enjoy the journey!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dario Collado
Had an incredible dining experience. Danny and his staff really took great care of the small details. Def recommend this restaurant for anyone in the DMV!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sonny Ahuja
Xiquet by Chef Danny Lledo is a culinary gem that deserves every accolade it receives, and then some! From the moment you step through the door, you're transported into a world where passion for food meets the epitome of fine dining.Chef Danny Lledo's creations are nothing short of spectacular. Each dish is a harmonious symphony of flavors, expertly crafted to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. The attention to detail is evident in every bite, showcasing Chef Danny's dedication to perfection. From the moment you're greeted at the door, the staff goes above and beyond to ensure your every need is met with a smile. Their knowledge of the menu and wine pairings is unparalleled, adding an extra layer of sophistication to your dining experience.In short, Xiquet by Chef Danny Lledo is a culinary masterpiece that deserves every bit of praise it receives. If you're looking for an extraordinary dining experience that will leave you longing to return, look no further than Xiquet. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Paella, Wine Pairing, Steak Tartare, Golden Osetra Caviar
Louis A.
I'm headed to Valencia next month so I wanted to give Xiquet a try. It's not the best Michelin star restaurant I've been to, but it's not the worst either. I went on a night when they were still tinkering with their seasonal menu. My dishes were very meat heavy - there was lamb, partridge, and pork. That's on top of the hake and two paella dishes. I was definitely full and had to bring some of the food home. Other diners complained about their meals being too salty - I actually thought some of the dishes weren't salty enough. They could've also added a little more heat to them. I found some of them to be a little bland. The main course (Wellington Iberic pork) and dessert (rhubarb/avocado cake) were by far the best parts of the meal. I was charged $12 at the end of the night for "water service" which was a bit of a surprise. I opted for sparkling water. I don't know if it would've been the same price for still water, but a heads up would've been nice. Honestly, I would've been fine with tap water had I known I was going to be charged for it. They also don't have any soft drinks and no cocktail menu. They have what appeared to be a full service bar on the middle floor, but I was only given a wine menu. It's cheaper to get the wine pairing, unless you want to pay hundreds of dollars (or thousands) for a single bottle. Even a single glass was upwards of $50 so I opted to just stick with my $12 water. They charge you a 20% service fee which they say goes to all of the staff, but on top of that, when you receive your bill, there's also a line that prompts you to tip. It's very confusing. Furthermore, they charge you $50 when you make a reservation (which is eventually deducted from the bill), but I was actually charged $51.75. Apparently there's a $1.75 fee as well which wasn't made abundantly clear. I ended up spending close to $300 with no alcohol. I went on a Wednesday night around 7 PM and I was a little surprised by how vacant the restaurant was. There was just me and one other couple. Their dining room appeared to sit about 20-30 people, though I do have to give them credit for allowing single diners. Many Michelin star restaurants won't even give you that option. Service was great and staff were very friendly. What I found unique was they give you little cards with descriptions of each of the dishes. I'm not sure I'd come back, but worth a visit I suppose, especially if you like paella.
Patricia Henry
I visited Xiquet on Saturday night ,it wS my husband's birthday and also our Anniversary. This was a dining experience, the seating was , the seat I requested. The food was amazing, the service was impeccable and it's a very intimate atmosphere. I would definitely visit this restaurant again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mohammad H
Wish I can give them a Zero!! This place isn’t professional and they disrespect they employee!! My favorite person ,Kathy was amazing !! Love her‼️ recommend her always
Tucker Scott
Xiquet came highly recommended, and we planned a birthday weekend in DC around it and another Michelin Star restaurant. The head chef/owner and sommelier were off site at a function and that maybe had an effect on our dinning experience. The food was good, but nothing stood out particularly. We are very much into wine and looked forward to the premium wine pairing. It became clear right away our server didn't have knowledge required to do the wines justice. For the price this was very disappointing. We typically received our food then waited quite some time before the next wine paring was presented. I did like the idea of a flight for two courses, but there wasn't any explanation on the differences, why it was chosen ect. Overall I would say it was a very disjointed experience. Timing was definitely off for most of the evening. One bright spot was the sous chef. He took time to greet us and even sit down for a few minutes. The server in the bar area was also amazing. She definitely took care of us and made for a pleasant end to the night. It appears there is a high turnover in staff which might also account for our experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Slav Gatchev
Extremely disappointing experience and horrendous value. The only thing that brings it up to two stars are rare flashes of quality to begin to justify the price tag. Let me say that we are happy to pay top dollar for gourmet tasting menus. I would rate Pineapple & Pearls, Metier, Minibar, and Jont 5* and not grumble about their pricing. So when you pay $500 per person inclusive only of a little glass of wine you expect exceptional quality and service. You will not find these at Xiquet and we aren’t the only ones judging from the reviews below. The Michelin star doesn’t appear to be justified.The problems started at the door where you are met at an institutional looking and cold downstairs room. This was incidentally the only time someone acknowledged the event we were celebrating — otherwise no champagne, no candle, nada. You get handed a glass of cheap welcome cava while waiting to be escorted upstairs. The dining room is austere and also institutional looking with a too loud soundtrack of 90’s Spanish pop and really bad one (one Oreja de Van Gogh track was the best sound all evening).Service was very uneven and badly choreographed. We had a tired and distracted looking woman and a guy who was overly eager to fish for compliments. He quickly switched from “are you enjoying this dish” to “this is amazing, right? Right?”Someone else noted how stingy the wine pours are especially given the outrageously overpriced wine. A “half glass” of OK white that barely coats the bottom of glass will set you back $50 and that was a bargain on the menu (the woman also yanked it away unfinished). Basically they push you to opt for the “standard” wine pairing of $250 per person which can quickly balloon with supplements.They don’t have a cocktail program. They say they can make “classics” but both a gimlet (no limes) and a dirty martini (no olives) were rejected as options. The whisky sours they agreed to make looked fine (egg whites, bitters) but were weak and unbalanced.The food was fine but not worth the price. Ultimately nothing was that memorable despite the showy ingredients — caviar, truffles, foie gras. The last savory dish was a pork Wellington where the kitchen sink of luxury ingredients was thrown in including iberrico ham and pork and more foie gras. This all felt oddly 1980’s as if the kitchen wanted to impress you into submission with loudness vs charm or delight you.“Amazing, right?”
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Bill
This three level restaurant is what it claims to be.We went for our anniversary and we're sceptical about a meal that is $1000 plus but for a foodie, it's an experience that is worth the steep price.Chef Lledo's food is artfully plated and every bite is was delicious.The food is thoughtfully prepared with each bite bringing a wonderful harmony of flavor. From sauce to the star of the plate, the combination of flavors was complimentary.We also found that the progression from course to course to be absolutely wonderful.Being as all of the food is prepared over an open flame, each dish has that pleasant, smoky flavor. The Spanish influence also creates an unexpected change to each dish served.With the addition of wine, each glass or bottle's region and flavor profile is expertly explained.Nothing that happens in the dining room happens by accident.We were there for their Valentine's Day menu, all of our courses were set, the only choice we had to make was which wines we'd like to enjoy with our meal. Each meal was accompanied by a playing card which were, of course, all hearts. From the ace to the six, each card explains each dish and where the influence comes from.We had one issue with our courses, skipping the two of hearts proceeding to the three. I should explain, this IS NOT staffed by waiters. Each person in the dining room may as well be a manager that is determined to make your dinner the best it can be.But I digress, as our courses were discovered to be out of order by one of their staff, the incredible Kathy, the erroy immediately corrected and we were brought the appropriate plate. From that point on, Kathy became our guardian, ensuring everything from that point on was absolutely perfect.Kathy is an asset to Xiquet's staff who went far beyond anything that we could have imagined. If you meet Kathy when you visit, please, please know that you are in the best possible hands.The restaurant has three floors with their greeting area on the first. Their second floor, which they refer to as the mezzanine, houses their bar. A nicely appointed, intimate space that's perfect for that cocktail before dinner or a nice place to settle after your meal.The third floor houses the dining room. As soon as you enter, you are face to face with the beautiful kitchen filled with an excellent chef team. We were served a wonderful little bite at the window and seated after.The dining room is small with seven tables wrapped around the wine service station. Six of the tables seat four people and one table, which sits right up against the kitchen. The noise level was fairly high but you could still hear the person seated across the table from you.If you want to spend a large amount of money on a meal, this would be a great place to go. I do know, at least for us, this will be a fairly rare stop.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
juan antonio vives fontanet
I went with my partner for my anniversary and I was fascinated, what a way to pair Mediterranean dishes in the United States. We will definitely return!
I love rhe service. The chef was amazing explaining us the dishes, also the pairing with the main ones. Finally we finish with the mignardises and some oportos from Spain. We recomend it 100%
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shelby Jolly
Such a unique experience with foods I wouldn't be able to try anywhere else in DC! The presentation and story behind each dish is very creative and I left feeling very satisfied and full!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anthony Hesselius
Gorgeous meal in a beautiful space. Would highly recommend for a special occasion (or really just a way to treat yourself when you deserve something wonderfully delicious!!).
Service was amazing and unfortunately that was the only highlight of the night. We went for the restaurant week, For a 60pp + tip and tax menu, I couldn't believe they only gave me ONE shrimp for appetizer, not to mention it did not look good. The main course: rabbit paella was very tiny and salty, since the portion was so small, we both felt like it was just another appetizer lol What a night!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Jimmy L.
Decided to come here for restaurant week. I read somewhere that their regular tasting menu at $265 was discounted by $100, but was dismayed to find out that it was different in that two items aren't included (Iberic Wellington and something else). The Wellington was an optional add on at $40, which I did not opt for. Reservation was a breeze online, and there was a $50 per person non refundable deposit, which gets deducted from the final bill. There was ample street parking. The dining experience was very intimate, with just 7 tables. Service was awesome, and even Chef Danny brought out a few plates and described the dishes! My favorite dishes were probably the red prawn, turbot, and the partridge. The orange dessert also really stood out. The final two dessert servings is served at the mezzanine level, where there is also a bar. There you settle the bill and get a parting gift bag with some sweets. A mandatory 22% service fee is added, which also gets taxed, and this is not a tip. Overall, a very nice dining experience. I was hesitant at first, having read the reviews, which were either hit or miss. I personally enjoyed the food, but wasn't completely blown away at the price point. Luckily, I tried it during RW at a discount. Still, a very nice experience overall.
Behind the modest exterior, an immersive culinary journey awaits! Every foodie traveler enjoys 'the find' - a place you don't expect but allows you to join the curated journey of an exceptional chef and his team. Xiquet is one of DC's few true finds, tucked away in a small neighborhood but standing tall in the burgeoning DC dining scene. It is one of those rare places in an otherwise hypertensive town where time becomes ephemeral, and you can truly give in to enjoying artistry for its own sake and within its own parameters.Since Chef Danny changes his menu constantly, based on inspiration and availability of high quality ingredients, check their site for the latest, and definitely allow them to pair their wines, ports, vermouths, etc. to achieve 'peak flavour'.Our experience, a special occasion for my wife and me, was - to use one word - blissful! And equally importantly, relaxed - as visits to special places like Xiquet and its Michelin-starred siblings like Rose's Luxury, Jaunt and Inn at Little Washington should be.Make the time, take the time, and enjoy the journey!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had an incredible dining experience. Danny and his staff really took great care of the small details. Def recommend this restaurant for anyone in the DMV!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Xiquet by Chef Danny Lledo is a culinary gem that deserves every accolade it receives, and then some! From the moment you step through the door, you're transported into a world where passion for food meets the epitome of fine dining.Chef Danny Lledo's creations are nothing short of spectacular. Each dish is a harmonious symphony of flavors, expertly crafted to tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more. The attention to detail is evident in every bite, showcasing Chef Danny's dedication to perfection. From the moment you're greeted at the door, the staff goes above and beyond to ensure your every need is met with a smile. Their knowledge of the menu and wine pairings is unparalleled, adding an extra layer of sophistication to your dining experience.In short, Xiquet by Chef Danny Lledo is a culinary masterpiece that deserves every bit of praise it receives. If you're looking for an extraordinary dining experience that will leave you longing to return, look no further than Xiquet. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Paella, Wine Pairing, Steak Tartare, Golden Osetra Caviar
I'm headed to Valencia next month so I wanted to give Xiquet a try. It's not the best Michelin star restaurant I've been to, but it's not the worst either. I went on a night when they were still tinkering with their seasonal menu. My dishes were very meat heavy - there was lamb, partridge, and pork. That's on top of the hake and two paella dishes. I was definitely full and had to bring some of the food home. Other diners complained about their meals being too salty - I actually thought some of the dishes weren't salty enough. They could've also added a little more heat to them. I found some of them to be a little bland. The main course (Wellington Iberic pork) and dessert (rhubarb/avocado cake) were by far the best parts of the meal. I was charged $12 at the end of the night for "water service" which was a bit of a surprise. I opted for sparkling water. I don't know if it would've been the same price for still water, but a heads up would've been nice. Honestly, I would've been fine with tap water had I known I was going to be charged for it. They also don't have any soft drinks and no cocktail menu. They have what appeared to be a full service bar on the middle floor, but I was only given a wine menu. It's cheaper to get the wine pairing, unless you want to pay hundreds of dollars (or thousands) for a single bottle. Even a single glass was upwards of $50 so I opted to just stick with my $12 water. They charge you a 20% service fee which they say goes to all of the staff, but on top of that, when you receive your bill, there's also a line that prompts you to tip. It's very confusing. Furthermore, they charge you $50 when you make a reservation (which is eventually deducted from the bill), but I was actually charged $51.75. Apparently there's a $1.75 fee as well which wasn't made abundantly clear. I ended up spending close to $300 with no alcohol. I went on a Wednesday night around 7 PM and I was a little surprised by how vacant the restaurant was. There was just me and one other couple. Their dining room appeared to sit about 20-30 people, though I do have to give them credit for allowing single diners. Many Michelin star restaurants won't even give you that option. Service was great and staff were very friendly. What I found unique was they give you little cards with descriptions of each of the dishes. I'm not sure I'd come back, but worth a visit I suppose, especially if you like paella.
I visited Xiquet on Saturday night ,it wS my husband's birthday and also our Anniversary. This was a dining experience, the seating was , the seat I requested. The food was amazing, the service was impeccable and it's a very intimate atmosphere. I would definitely visit this restaurant again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wish I can give them a Zero!! This place isn’t professional and they disrespect they employee!! My favorite person ,Kathy was amazing !! Love her‼️ recommend her always
Xiquet came highly recommended, and we planned a birthday weekend in DC around it and another Michelin Star restaurant. The head chef/owner and sommelier were off site at a function and that maybe had an effect on our dinning experience. The food was good, but nothing stood out particularly. We are very much into wine and looked forward to the premium wine pairing. It became clear right away our server didn't have knowledge required to do the wines justice. For the price this was very disappointing. We typically received our food then waited quite some time before the next wine paring was presented. I did like the idea of a flight for two courses, but there wasn't any explanation on the differences, why it was chosen ect. Overall I would say it was a very disjointed experience. Timing was definitely off for most of the evening. One bright spot was the sous chef. He took time to greet us and even sit down for a few minutes. The server in the bar area was also amazing. She definitely took care of us and made for a pleasant end to the night. It appears there is a high turnover in staff which might also account for our experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Extremely disappointing experience and horrendous value. The only thing that brings it up to two stars are rare flashes of quality to begin to justify the price tag. Let me say that we are happy to pay top dollar for gourmet tasting menus. I would rate Pineapple & Pearls, Metier, Minibar, and Jont 5* and not grumble about their pricing. So when you pay $500 per person inclusive only of a little glass of wine you expect exceptional quality and service. You will not find these at Xiquet and we aren’t the only ones judging from the reviews below. The Michelin star doesn’t appear to be justified.The problems started at the door where you are met at an institutional looking and cold downstairs room. This was incidentally the only time someone acknowledged the event we were celebrating — otherwise no champagne, no candle, nada. You get handed a glass of cheap welcome cava while waiting to be escorted upstairs. The dining room is austere and also institutional looking with a too loud soundtrack of 90’s Spanish pop and really bad one (one Oreja de Van Gogh track was the best sound all evening).Service was very uneven and badly choreographed. We had a tired and distracted looking woman and a guy who was overly eager to fish for compliments. He quickly switched from “are you enjoying this dish” to “this is amazing, right? Right?”Someone else noted how stingy the wine pours are especially given the outrageously overpriced wine. A “half glass” of OK white that barely coats the bottom of glass will set you back $50 and that was a bargain on the menu (the woman also yanked it away unfinished). Basically they push you to opt for the “standard” wine pairing of $250 per person which can quickly balloon with supplements.They don’t have a cocktail program. They say they can make “classics” but both a gimlet (no limes) and a dirty martini (no olives) were rejected as options. The whisky sours they agreed to make looked fine (egg whites, bitters) but were weak and unbalanced.The food was fine but not worth the price. Ultimately nothing was that memorable despite the showy ingredients — caviar, truffles, foie gras. The last savory dish was a pork Wellington where the kitchen sink of luxury ingredients was thrown in including iberrico ham and pork and more foie gras. This all felt oddly 1980’s as if the kitchen wanted to impress you into submission with loudness vs charm or delight you.“Amazing, right?”
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
This three level restaurant is what it claims to be.We went for our anniversary and we're sceptical about a meal that is $1000 plus but for a foodie, it's an experience that is worth the steep price.Chef Lledo's food is artfully plated and every bite is was delicious.The food is thoughtfully prepared with each bite bringing a wonderful harmony of flavor. From sauce to the star of the plate, the combination of flavors was complimentary.We also found that the progression from course to course to be absolutely wonderful.Being as all of the food is prepared over an open flame, each dish has that pleasant, smoky flavor. The Spanish influence also creates an unexpected change to each dish served.With the addition of wine, each glass or bottle's region and flavor profile is expertly explained.Nothing that happens in the dining room happens by accident.We were there for their Valentine's Day menu, all of our courses were set, the only choice we had to make was which wines we'd like to enjoy with our meal. Each meal was accompanied by a playing card which were, of course, all hearts. From the ace to the six, each card explains each dish and where the influence comes from.We had one issue with our courses, skipping the two of hearts proceeding to the three. I should explain, this IS NOT staffed by waiters. Each person in the dining room may as well be a manager that is determined to make your dinner the best it can be.But I digress, as our courses were discovered to be out of order by one of their staff, the incredible Kathy, the erroy immediately corrected and we were brought the appropriate plate. From that point on, Kathy became our guardian, ensuring everything from that point on was absolutely perfect.Kathy is an asset to Xiquet's staff who went far beyond anything that we could have imagined. If you meet Kathy when you visit, please, please know that you are in the best possible hands.The restaurant has three floors with their greeting area on the first. Their second floor, which they refer to as the mezzanine, houses their bar. A nicely appointed, intimate space that's perfect for that cocktail before dinner or a nice place to settle after your meal.The third floor houses the dining room. As soon as you enter, you are face to face with the beautiful kitchen filled with an excellent chef team. We were served a wonderful little bite at the window and seated after.The dining room is small with seven tables wrapped around the wine service station. Six of the tables seat four people and one table, which sits right up against the kitchen. The noise level was fairly high but you could still hear the person seated across the table from you.If you want to spend a large amount of money on a meal, this would be a great place to go. I do know, at least for us, this will be a fairly rare stop.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
I went with my partner for my anniversary and I was fascinated, what a way to pair Mediterranean dishes in the United States. We will definitely return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I love rhe service. The chef was amazing explaining us the dishes, also the pairing with the main ones. Finally we finish with the mignardises and some oportos from Spain. We recomend it 100%
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Such a unique experience with foods I wouldn't be able to try anywhere else in DC! The presentation and story behind each dish is very creative and I left feeling very satisfied and full!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gorgeous meal in a beautiful space. Would highly recommend for a special occasion (or really just a way to treat yourself when you deserve something wonderfully delicious!!).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Paella, Wine Pairing, Percebes
Service was amazing and unfortunately that was the only highlight of the night. We went for the restaurant week, For a 60pp + tip and tax menu, I couldn't believe they only gave me ONE shrimp for appetizer, not to mention it did not look good. The main course: rabbit paella was very tiny and salty, since the portion was so small, we both felt like it was just another appetizer lol What a night!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Decided to come here for restaurant week. I read somewhere that their regular tasting menu at $265 was discounted by $100, but was dismayed to find out that it was different in that two items aren't included (Iberic Wellington and something else). The Wellington was an optional add on at $40, which I did not opt for. Reservation was a breeze online, and there was a $50 per person non refundable deposit, which gets deducted from the final bill. There was ample street parking. The dining experience was very intimate, with just 7 tables. Service was awesome, and even Chef Danny brought out a few plates and described the dishes! My favorite dishes were probably the red prawn, turbot, and the partridge. The orange dessert also really stood out. The final two dessert servings is served at the mezzanine level, where there is also a bar. There you settle the bill and get a parting gift bag with some sweets. A mandatory 22% service fee is added, which also gets taxed, and this is not a tip. Overall, a very nice dining experience. I was hesitant at first, having read the reviews, which were either hit or miss. I personally enjoyed the food, but wasn't completely blown away at the price point. Luckily, I tried it during RW at a discount. Still, a very nice experience overall.