Tabard Inn Restaurant

I have been procrastinating writing this review because, overall I love the Tabard. I have been coming to the Tabard since August of 1980 (that’s not a typo). It is understandable that in that span of time the menu and food quality have fluctuated from ethereal to mediocre as chefs come and go. However, ambiance, service, and drinks remarkably maintain premium quality over time. Though, there was the incident of the rookie server who dumped an entire bowl of hot gumbo on my friend’s sister’s lap at a celebration dinner in June 2011. I have not been to the Tabard since before the beginning of my posting Google reviews in June of 2019, until two weeks ago, when, coincidentally, the host of the gumbo spill incident dinner was in town on business, suggesting dinner at the Tabard. It still has the same funky vibe, engaging, focussed wait staff, and terrific drinks. The bartender accommodated my Negroni recipe - 1 part gin, .75 part Campari, .25 part sweet vermouth, shaken on rocks, strained into a short stem glass. Oddly, the bar did not have orange twist, and twist of lemon worked fine. Early in the ordering process, in conversation with our server, she caught my ear with the mention of words I dread hearing: ‘new chef.’ Long Island Blue Point Oysters with Kimchee-Pickled Ginger Granita seemed like a safe bet appetizer to me, which turned out to be true. The Oysters were fresh, having clean, crisp, and refreshing flavor. With the complex K-PGG: the spicy tanginess of the Kimchee - the sweet zestiness of the Ginger - the coolness of the Granita, all engaging with the brininess of the LIBPO, and Sauvignon Blanc to drink, the appetizer was a flavor jamboree. I should have stopped with the appetizer. My Steak Frites entree, on the other hand, was disastrous. I couldn’t believe it came from the same kitchen. It was thin, tough, and gristly. The sauce was equally disgusting. I discreetly removed the cartilage from my mouth, camouflaged it on another plate, concentrated on the flavor of the Cabernet I ordered with the entree, and conversation with my friend. Here’s an observation that speaks to the Tabard ambiance, in my opinion and experience: we noticed no one in the dining room was on their phones. I think that is a distinction of white tablecloth fine dining compared to casual dining and below. People were there to enjoy each other’s company.

I had a delightful dining experience at Tabard in Washington DC. The French menu was exceptional, and the employees, especially John and Arvin, went above and beyond to make our evening special. The star of the night was the executive chef, Matthew, whose culinary skills were truly outstanding. His kindness and talent shone through in every dish. I highly recommend Tabard for a memorable and delicious dining experience.

Traveling with friends who are history buffs, so we made reservations here. Absolutely lovely location, the staff are very friendly and super nice. The bread and butter is incredibly tasty, we ordered (and paid for) a second serving. Between the four of us we had the pear salad, the peach salad, the frisee salad, steak frites, grilled carrots, and the lamb shoulder for dinner. The food was excellent, although we did end up with the entrees coming out before we were done with the salad/apps, so the table was quite full. We ordered a pair of desserts to split, they were incredibly tasty!

The Tabard was interesting, kinda mazey with places to eat in different areas. We chose to eat outdoors, which eclectic look in nature a cross between the secret garden and a fairy tale, just a little spooky. However, the wait staff was friendly,kind, and attentive. My friend and I had the donut, which was a donut. We both had a chicken and waffle, which appearance was lovely, yet a little underwhelming in taste. My friend had to keep adding salt and pepper. It was a unique take on chicken and waffle. They used the thigh and mixed with chunks of bacon. It was a pleasant time.

An excellent venue in the middle of DC that was able to accommodate us walking in without a reservation on a Saturday evening. The atmosphere of the place was quite eclectic and unique, while the staff were very attentive. The food was amazing, with a perfectly cooked monkfish set in a sauce that tasted like the ocean, and a delicious coq au vin that had a rich earthy flavour. Definitely expensive but you are paying for a fine dining experience in the middle of DC

Seriously. I’d give a 6 star if I could. Have not tasted a better chicken and waffles. Their waffles is a churro! And the chicken was done perfectly. Crispy, not too oily. And even the Eggs Benedict had a surprising buttery twist to it. Coffee wasn’t out of this world but it was fine. The atmosphere in the garden was cute too. My companion and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.