Dauphine’s

Dauphine’s has a great vibe with a beautiful bar area that sets the perfect tone for drinks and bites. Their happy hour selection is solid, and the New Orleans-inspired cocktails and food did not disappoint. For drinks, we had the Pimm’s Cup, Punch, and Hurricane—all refreshing, well-balanced, and classic New Orleans cocktails. Food-wise, we started with fresh and charbroiled oysters, both delicious in their own way. The chicken liver mousse dip with shrimp chips was creamy and unique, while the catfish dip had a great smoky flavor, served with buttery crackers—though a bit too crumbly. For the main, the blackened catfish was cooked perfectly—tender, flavorful, and paired with a rich, well-seasoned sauce. The rice grits were creamy and buttery, soaking up that sauce beautifully. 10 out of 10! With RTO in full swing, the place gets busy even on a Wednesday, so I’d recommend coming early for happy hour. Definitely planning to return!

We enjoyed our dining experience and the service was top notch. We had two waiters ( due to shift change) both were very accommodating, knowledgeable about items on the menu and served with smiles. The food was good. I enjoyed the twist on some of their traditional New Orleans food. Also, their cocktails are crafted and curated.

This was an incredible find, I’m beyond pleased with my experience. Incredible service, incredible food, and incredible drinks. The ambiance is divine. I can’t speak highly enough of my experience, especially considering the price is so reasonable. 10/10

A nice spin on Creole cooking. Delicious quick and friendly service. Would definitely come back!

Very upscale nice Louisiana style restaurant to have dinner and their drinks were delicious.

Without a reservation and coming in around 9:45 the night before Valentine's Day, we were pleasantly surprised to get a table almost immediately! Also, they politely asked us to order food quickly as their kitchen usually closes around 9:30- amazing service! We ordered the beef tartare - 9/10 -comes with kettle cooked chips to scoop the round, multi layered concoction. The pickled celery and aioli add depth to the flavors! Dozen oysters - 10/10 -If the oysters are flavorful, they'll always get a 10 from me, and these were no exception. The waiter suggested trying the range of salinity from low to high so we ordered a variety. Branzino amandine - 8/10 -This dish was the perfect size to split after our appetizer and oysters! The sliced nuts added a pleasant, earthy texture to the white fish which was perfectly cooked and sat on a bed of rice and long green beans. Would order again, especially if the appetite is low. Lastly, we ordered the Vieux carre, a spin on an old fashioned New Orleans style. We got two each ! All in all, great experience for our first night in DC after a walk around downtown.

I have come here multiple times for personal and business occasions. Every time, the quality of the food, the flavors, and aromas blow me away. I have tried too much to list, so I will say I cannot recommend this place enough. I recently went for a Valentine’s Day Brunch, we tried the steak and eggs, catfish and grits, and the Banana French toast. All excellent. There was also a live artist playing music to uplift the ambience. One honorable mention from previous visits was the Duck Jambalaya. It comes with what may be one of the best rice dishes I have ever had at a restaurant. Amazing job they do here!

I went to Dauphine’s during DC Restaurant Week and had such a great experience. The food and service were amazing from start to finish, and the restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful. I had never had potato salad in gumbo before, but it was such a nice twist and surprisingly worked so well. The bread pudding wasn’t my personal favorite, but my friends loved it. The real standout for me was the ube cheesecake (not pictured). It was an unexpected and delicious surprise.

[2nd visit- Saturday Bruch] I’ve been back for brunch (cuz their dishes were AMAZING), and the experience completely changed my impression. Every dish felt thoughtfully prepared, and the flavors were excellent across the board. I can really tell care goes into each menu item. It has quickly become one of my favorite brunch spots, to the point that I’m already planning to visit again with my family toward the end of the year. I also heard they have live jazz on Sundays, which I’m really looking forward to experiencing next time. [First visit- Saturday Dinner] Overall, I was so excited about this place after reading great reviews, but my experience was little bit different. We went for a special occasion (made a reservation in advance), but our main dish came out nearly over 40 minutes after ordering, and there were several mix-ups with the orders. (Without any explanation, different servers kept coming to my table and bring and take foods...) Fortunately, our server (I believe his name was Sam) was excellent—kind, attentive, and professional. His whiskey cocktail recommendation was fantastic and made the wait much more enjoyable. Thanks to him, what could have been a frustrating night ended on a positive note.

I wanted to organize a simple yet elegant (and ridiculously last-minute) birthday celebration with about 30 friends, many of whom I hadn't seen in years. Therefore the food and ambience were equally important. Dauphine's was the ideal place to host my gathering as everyone commuted from across the entire DMV. Located in the prime Midtown Center-which previously housed The Washington Post-the New Orleans-inspired restaurant is a stone's throw from the White House, National Mall, Capital One Arena and other numerous attractions that are naturally worth checking out. [FYI: The venue is metro accessible and metered street parking is available, albeit limited. For added convenience, there's a garage in the alley directly behind Dauphine's that I used (and thankfully so because I could barely move after eating so much.)] From the moment we stepped through the entrance, I felt like I was in the French Quarter. Arrive camera-ready, people, because the layout and decor are Insta-worthy. And the menu...my oh my the food and drinks were impeccably presented and mouthwateringly superb, boasting authentic Cajun and Creole touches served with a contemporary flair. Our orders were quickly delivered by friendly, polished staff including our attentive bartender for the evening, Christian. Thank you! I had to turn my phone off the following day as my guests called and texted me virtually nonstop, raving about how much they enjoyed the NOLA vibe in such a luxurious setting. Our experience was nothing short of PERFECTION and because of that, we all plan on returning extremely soon...perhaps in a week or two but who's counting? (Raises both hands.) Check out Dauphine's for yourself, come hungry and try a bit of everything, including the beignets...honestly, they surpass the ones at Cafe Du Monde!

We went there for a date night and started with a couple of drinks at the bar before moving to our table for dinner. Our meal included fried artichokes, bread service, boudin balls, and trout as appetizers and main course. Everything was excellent except the fried artichokes, which the server kindly removed from our bill. For dessert, we ordered the baked Alaska — a must-try!

Love the interior and the food! To me French Cajun means terrific flavor without the price and arrogance of French dining. Our waiter Marvin was very patient gave clear, explanations and flexible with changes. All around it’s an extraordinary place for a celebration or special occasion!

Absolutely loved Dauphine! The ambiance was warm and charming, and the food was even better. The pasta was incredibly fresh with rich, balanced flavors, and the mocktails were surprisingly creative and delicious — not an afterthought at all. Service was friendly and attentive, making the whole experience feel effortless. Definitely a place I’d come back to.

This is our second time visiting the restaurant and we were hugely surprised by the quality of the food comparing to the visit a few years ago. We ordered four appetizers and three entries and one desert and everything is delicious. The most noteworthy included the bread service, the bullfrog, the blackened catfish and desert, amazingly delicious. We will definitely come back again!

Best grits! If you like savory grits order them at brunch. I was able to substitute grits for a egg at brunch. Best decision. Our server Marvin gave great suggestions. The bread tray was delicious. The crab cake was not what I expected. It was fried and I expected it broiled. It was tasty nonetheless. The sweet potato hash was good. The beignets were great! Would definitely go back to Dauphine's in the future.

Dauphine's has been a favorite for several years now, and when we went recently for date night it didnt dissapoint! We started with the charcuterie board and we had the jambalaya and the branzino for mains and the beignets for dessert. The service was top notch! She included some extra cheese for us in the charcuterie and recommended an excellent dessert wine. In the past we thoroughly enjoyed the raw bar as well. A great place for drinks, dinner or both!

Dauphines is truly a 10/10 when it comes to aesthetics — the ambiance alone makes the experience feel elevated and intentional. From the moment we sat down, I was impressed. The bread basket was amazing. Chef Joy absolutely did her thing with this one. The jam/spread that comes with it is so good — I could’ve easily had more of that by itself. It set the tone for the whole meal. The food here is very unique and thoughtfully curated. I’m not personally into rabbit, but they offer a pasta with rabbit that sounded incredible. The way our waiter described it made it easy to understand what to expect flavor-wise. Unfortunately, they had run out that night, which was a little disappointing — but honestly, it just gives me a reason to come back. Although it was a busy evening, our waiter was attentive and very descriptive when walking us through the menu, which I really appreciated. Great service makes such a difference. I was too full to try dessert (still thinking about it 😩), but if the bread and entrées are any indication, I can only imagine how good the desserts are. I also love that the menu changes every few months — it keeps things fresh and exciting. I would definitely come back.

I have visited this establishment for Brunch twice. Both times I had the most excellent experience. Glows: Food options are excellent. The biscuits are wonderful. They reminded me of my grandmother's drop biscuits. Lows: Jazz music can be a bit loud. So request to be further away from the music if you want to hear your guests speaking to you.

Dauphine’s is a great New Orleans inspired restaurant in DC. We went there for dinner on a cold Saturday evening and had a great time. We got the planter’s punch cocktail, gumbo, kale salad, catfish and roast beef po-boy. All the dishes were good with the gumbo and catfish specially standing out. I felt that the beef in the poboy and the hasselback potato side were under salted.

Came to this place to use my credit card and OpenTable credits—food was excellent, I was very impressed. I have lived in Louisiana for a year, and I have never had anything like this. Service: excellent, staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful . Atmosphere: above average, plenty of seating for all types of parties. Bathrooms were clean and unique

Went there around 4pm on a weekday, we came early for our reservation and they happily seated us. We tried the frog legs- felt like an exotic dish to me, though I know they may be quite common for others. The flavor and texture were unique and definitely an interesting experience—something different from what I usually eat. I really appreciated the service—when I asked for a little pick-me-up, the server gladly brought me a Latte. Oyster spaghetti- I really liked the taste but it had a generous amount of sauce—so much that it felt a bit overwhelming. A side of bread would have balanced it nicely and helped make the dish more enjoyable.

We had a great time at Dauphine’s. Shared a few small plates and had cocktails. The service was very good, the vibes are jazzy, and the food is above average! My two favorite small plates we ordered were the fried artichokes and the bbq shrimp. Everything we had was cooked well and flavorful.

We came here for Sunday brunch, and the live band made for a great atmosphere! We ordered the raw oysters, steak and eggs, and the Bananas Foster French toast. The French toast was absolutely amazing—definitely the highlight of the meal. The ribeye wasn’t as tender as I’d hoped, but it was still good. Service was a bit slow; our mimosa was forgotten, and the food took a while to arrive. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience, and I’d probably come back!

My sister and I visited for dinner on a Friday evening in August. We had a reservation and were seated right away. The space was so well decorated. It had a light vibe and the ambiance was casual, warm and a bit elegant. The table we were sat at was very small and since we ordered drinks plus the 3-course restaurant week menu, it got crowded quickly so it wasn't very comfortable. However, our server (Marie?) was funny, attentive, and helpful with recommendations. The food was solid but not amazing. We definitely both loved the crab and artichoke dip and fried saltines. We both enjoyed the red wine with our meal and agreed that we would consider going back to try more menu items.

The bread board was meh, The artichokes were really good! I wouldn't normally get chicken, but the GF wanted it & it was delicious. The presentation of the chicken gave a weirdly produced look tho. The peach salad was a bit disappointing. The entree menu wasn't to exciting but the small plates were. I'd make sure if you're wanting an entree to see if they even offer something you'd like.

Had a great Saturday night before a holiday party. Service at the bar was excellent. Four stars because the menu could use a few more vegetable options. Smoked fish dip was too creamy and that drowned the taste of the dish in the dip. Oysters were insanely good. That said, cocktails and the bartender were excellent. Beautiful decor too.

First and foremost, our waiter (Sam) was amazing and the service was 5/5 because of him. The food itself was a 4/5. We ordered fried frog legs and the jambalaya for appetizers and they were both incredibly salty, particularly the frog legs. The best appetizer we had was the artichoke dip. The bread service was a fun addition. The main entrees were good. For dessert, we ordered the trio ice cream because it listed “apple pie” as one of the flavors which seemed unique, but it was just plain vanilla. It was a bit disappointing. We also got the beignets, which were great. They had Aval cider, which made for a delicious pairing with the dessert. Overall atmosphere was great, 5/5.

What stood out to me the most was the service at Dauphine's! They treat you with Southern hospitality, the Louisianan way (as they greet you upon entrance). All the food we ordered tasted great. We especially enjoyed the bread service dish as an appetizer and the branzino. Any of the seafood options are solid!

Overall food was excellent. Enjoyed all of our appetizers—artichoke, shrimp cocktail and bread plate. The kale and brussels sprout salad was light on kale and heavy on spinach, but delicious nonetheless. Drinks were wonderful: the spritz, espresso martini and buck were small but packed a punch. Entrees lost me a bit, the cacio e pepe special was not so special—compared to how flavorful everything had been at that point the pasta just tasted like I ground pepper straight into my mouth. The stuffed shell pasta dish was leagues better. Finally the beignets, I’ve had better but I’ve also had worse. For NYE dinner the service was good. Took a while for the waiter to make an appearance but the food came out nearly as soon as he put the order in. Decorations were lovely. Will return soon!

We came here on a Thursday evening during restaurant week and it was packed so I definitely recommend making a reservation far ahead of time. There were lots of great options for restaurant week meals- our favorites were the bacon wrapped pork loin, the catfish, the ube cheesecake, and the lobster fritters. The braised beef shank and the chicken gumbo were just ok and we weren't fans of the sauce on the mussels. The service was also not the best- there were 6 of us and they consistently brought out 5 dishes at a time and then we would have to wait for 5-10 mins before they would bring out the 6th person's dish with every single course.

Getting a seat at this restaurant was complicated. I had to sit at the bar. The lady at the reception was a little bit rude, but I guess this is how it works in places that are popular like this one. The food was good. I was gonna order the duck dish, but it was too much for one person so I didn’t, but I arrived just in time for the happy hour so there were a few items that were reduced in size therefore perfect for one person. thoroughly enjoyed the oysters and the beignets were fantastic.

Some of the food was absolutely fantastic. I loved the bread service, boudin balls, and duck jambalaya. The duck breast was a little sweet for my liking but it was perfectly cooked. Service was a little strange. Our waiter was attentive but kind of cold and awkward. Drinks were strong and worth the price. The baked Alaska was very heavy on the rum and it dominated the experience. I could hardly taste anything else which is a shame because when I could taste the meringue, ice cream, or cake, they were delicious. Beignets were a little dense and doughy. I would prefer them lighter and fluffier but it was still an overall pleasant experience. I’d definitely come back but I’d skip the dessert.

This place is cute, but I don’t feel the food matches the hype. The flavors were slightly bland, other than the Porkchop. That slapped. We were disappointed in the rest of it. Came for a regular dinner, also have come for restaurant week. The RW menus was fire, and missed they selection when we returned for normal dine.

Dauphine’s exudes an incredible ambiance and atmosphere that transports you to New Orleans. The French and Spanish influences in its architecture are evident, and the artwork complements the ambiance perfectly. We visited during restaurant week and made an evening reservation. Upon entering, we were greeted by a friendly gentleman who informed us that our table was being cleaned. However, the restaurant was understaffed, and we ended up waiting for about 10 minutes to be seated. We started with two delicious cocktails: a French 75 and a tropical rum drink. For appetizers, we tried the oysters and spicy coppa, which were both excellent. However, the entrees were a letdown. I had the blackened catfish creole dish with grits, which lacked flavor and had an unappealing presentation. My partner’s pork steak Milanese looked like a heap of Jinga blocks submerged in a yellow pond. Both dishes failed to impress. On the bright side, the dessert was good. We had the Neapolitan layered cake and chocolate peanut butter tart, which were both delicious. If you’re looking for a good dessert, I highly recommend both. Overall, Dauphine’s stunning decor and ambiance overshadow its food offerings. It’s a tempting spot for a date, but be prepared for a disappointing dining experience. Rating: 3.6/5

Food is so-so for its price, especially there is a hidden fee of 4%. The oysters are fresh, fish with almonds was delicious. The service was unfriendly and invisible, we had to wave many times for drink, question and bill. The home made charcuterie is not worth it.

This restaurant had a nice ambiance and was well decorated. The food was pretty good but nothing special for the price. Also, the portions sizes were pretty small especially for their limited vegetarian options. The service was decent but our waiter forgot about us a few times which was frustrating when we were trying to order more food. In addition, we were kind of rushed out of restaurant. I don’t think I will be going back and I definitely would not recommend if you are vegetarian or vegan.

The space is fabulous and the staff terrific. Everything comfortable and not cramped. Food is mixed. Oysters were tasty. Croque madam slapped together and undercooked. Collards way too crunchy. Lemonade amazing. French toast super sweet, though supposed to be.

I came here in February 2026. Atmosphere was GREAT! Awesome ambience. Food was fine, not amazing, but not bad or anything. Service was also fine. Waiter kept forgetting what I ordered and had to keep asking me. At some point, just write it down. I understand it’s a higher level skill to memorize customers orders, but if you’re not a seasoned server, might be better to take some notes and get it right. More important. I don’t think I’ll come back here for dinner but definitely for a happy hour. They need to expand the menu.

The food here is very good, but the underwhelming service does not make up for it. I went here with work colleagues for happy hour and made a reservation in the dining area for 5 people. Prior to arriving, I called the restaurant three times to try to adjust the reservation by 15 minutes, but no one would answer the phone. When we arrived and received our table, we were seated on the upper floor of the restaurant, which we did not love, so we asked to be moved to the lower section. We were told only parties of 4 or 6 could sit down there. It was about 30% full when we arrived at the restaurant… Upon sitting down at 5:50pm, we were told that we can’t order happy hour items (happy hour is 4-7pm) since we made a reservation in the dining area. Our server was kind and friendly, but we asked him to speak to his manager about this. The manager responded saying to read the Resy booking page that notes that happy hour is just for bar seating. My colleagues and I proceeded to look up the Resy booking and confirmation email (screenshots attached), and there was no mention of this. I approached the manager about this part way through the meal, and he did discount the two drinks (only two items from our entire order) to happy hour prices. I do appreciate this; however, since he told us we couldn’t order happy hour items, we did not get to even see the happy hour menu, so this was just by chance they were listed on there. Lastly, upon paying the check, 20% auto gratuity was added for parties of 6 or more (noted on the receipt). My colleagues and I all agree with tipping 20%, but there were only 5 of us there… In sum, there were some pretty easy service recoveries that could have been made, but management seemed impervious to accommodate.

I was visiting from out of town, I am not from DC however, I visit here often and I have eaten at 20+ restaurants in the city over the last 5 years. The servers and staff here were great, they were attentive when getting food and drink orders and the food came out pretty quickly. The food is the problem. It is woefully unseasoned and actually a little misleading, given the fact this restaurant is promoted as having creole food. Not only that, the prices are high, adding to the disappointment. With the prices averaging $25 a plate and above, I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone. Someone visiting from out of town would definitely be disappointed and unfortunately, restaurants with nice atmosphere and very disappointing food is par course for all downtown DC restaurants.