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Blue Duck Tavern

1201 24th St. NW (in the Park Hyatt), Washington, DC 20002 | 202-419-6755 | Web site »
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Neighborhood:

Foggy Bottom

Metro:

Foggy Bottom-GWU (Orange, Blue lines)

Cuisines:

American

Tags:

brunch, outdoor seating, charcuterie

hours:

Daily 6:30 am-10:30 pm (Service breaks during the day, see Web site for full schedule)

Atmosphere:

Outdoor Seating, Private Room, Chef's table

Price:

$$$

Quick Take

Linda Davidson/The Post

This spacious restaurant focuses on farm-fresh American fare in a too-cool setting.

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Editorial Review

Critic Rating:

2007 Fall Dining Guide
By Tom Sietsema
Washington Post Magazine
Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007

Fat apple pies resting on a marble counter, jars of canned fruit lining the walls and a garden of carefully arranged produce lead the way to the dining room at the Blue Duck Tavern, where spindly chairs and quilts on the wall further prepare a diner for something homespun. Not so fast. New York designer Tony Chi created the space -- a maze of glass, steel and wood -- and chef Brian McBride crafted the American menu, a document that pays tribute to farmers but also embraces McBride's 27 years at the stove. A table in the softly lighted inner sanctum -- near the vast open kitchen and the oven that burns oak and apple wood -- is like an orchestra seat at a cooking show. Current lures include tender squid sparked with olives, thickly cut hanger steak in a silver casserole crowded with roasted garlic and onions, wild striped bass capped with a disk of toasted sourdough, and pickled spiced tomatoes whose heat can bring tears to the eyes. Steer clear of the cloying braised beef barbecue and the faintly seasoned farm greens, but save space for the dreamy cheesecake, which sneaks in another popular American dessert with its thin layer of carrot cake.

 
 
 
 
 

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Reviews

Always go here to impress..

Posted by carriedot | Oct 22, 2009 | Mark as Inappropriate

When I need to impress someone from out of town, I take them to BDT. Excellent service, and amazing food!

Always a Great Experience

Posted by rudbud | Apr 17, 2009 | Mark as Inappropriate

Blue Duck Tavern is one of the best restaurants in the city. The food is exceptional, and it is always a great experience. Service excellent. I love the organic and locally sourced food. Most everything on the menu sounds delicious - difficult to decide. Strong wine list, and many selections not priced so high that you won't try something new. Love it!

One of the best in the city

Posted by mfritz | Jan 16, 2009 | Mark as Inappropriate

The entire experience was wonderful!! We were seated at an amazing table in front of the open kitchen for an intimate birthday dinner. The personal service was attentive without being stuffy, food was fresh and delicious, and the atmosphere was warm, comforting, and still sleek and modern. All dishes are ordered a la cart, so with sides, the price does add up. But the shared dishes create a lovely home-style feeling. The servers were sweet, friendly, and professional. One thing to keep in mind is that much of the flavor in the dishes comes from the freshness of the ingredients, in the spirit of California style cuisine. If you are looking for overcooked, heavily spiced or seasoned foods, this is not the place for you.

Great food, atmosphere, service

Posted by mah116 | Jan 02, 2009 | Mark as Inappropriate

The Blue Duck is a lovely place to meet for drinks, to have dinner, to have lunch. Food is top notche. The service elegant. I loved my drinks there with work friends. I loved my dinner with friends and loved one. My working lunch was fabulouse!

Not good

Posted by kak509 | Dec 01, 2008 | Mark as Inappropriate

Parents and I went to Blue Duck on Thanksgiving. Food was cold and/or tasteless. Service was very quick to remove our plates but never refilled our water glasses. Beautiful decor, food was awful. Need to do better or shut down on holidays. A shame - was looking forward based on reviews. Won't return.

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