Review of Charlie Palmer Steak, Washington DC

Charlie Palmer Steak is undoubtedly my favorite restaurant in Washington DC. It's pricey, but it's worth it.

The Location at Charlie Palmer Steak

Frankly, you can't beat it. You're in the heart of Washington, literally right next to the Capitol Building. Be sure to ask for a table by the window that has a Capitol view.

The Ambiance at Charlie Palmer Steak

It's not the fanciest ambiance that I've ever seen, but it's on par with most fine restaurants. As you walk in there's a gorgeous fountain that looks more like a pond. The waiters are knowledgeable and friendly. Ours trained at the Culinary Institute of America. It's hit or miss with the sommelier. I've had one fabulous sommelier and a poor one.

The Wine at Charlie Palmer Steak

I'm still working on becoming more sophisticated with the wine, but the one thing that even I can follow is that the wine selection is great. The wine cube, which is in the fountain that looks like a pond, includes 3,500 bottles of wine, according to their web site.

The Pre-Meal at Charlie Palmer Steak

The meal can be slow here, which is a big deal to me. After you order, things start out with an amuse bouche, a little freebie. Often it's a small crab salad, which is only a bite or two but is very tasty.

The Meal at Charlie Palmer Steak

I hear there's lots of good choices on the menu, but the steak is the way to go. The steaks are great. What I love about Charlie though is everything else. The sides and appetizers are phenomenal too.

The Experience at Charlie Palmer Steak

Most great steak places I've been to have great steak, but that's it. At Charlie's I find the appetizers and sides to be better and more unique.

Your meal finishes with a plate of desserts, "compliments of the pastry chefs." This platter has two sets of four bite-sized desserts. A fantastic sampling with desserts I normally wouldn't order, but of course end up tasting great.

The ambiance, amuse bouche, and the generous pastry chef make Charlie Palmer different from most fine restaurants. I've been to plenty of restaurants that serve top notch food like Charlie Palmer, but it's a totally different experience here, which makes it my favorite.

The Check at Charlie Palmer Steak

It's a la carte and a bit pricey. Steaks run around $30. Sides are in the $7 to $10 range; appetizers run more in the $10 to $15 range.

Restaurant Week Review

Twice a year Washington DC has a restaurant week, where restaurants offer limited menus for a lower price.

I tried Charlie Palmer for the first time during restaurant week, and that experience pushed me to try the restaurant for full price, which is still a good value in my opinion. They didn't seem to hold back or go cheap for restaurant week.

But I was very disappointed when I went there for restaurant week in January 2009. I'm hesitant to try restaurant week there again.