Restaurants

Komi

1509 17th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036 | 202-332-9200 | Web site »

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Neighborhood:

Dupont Circle

Metro:

Dupont Circle (Red Line)

Cuisines:

Greek

Tags:

2011 Fall Dining Guide, tasting menu

hours:

Tue-Sat 5:30 pm-until closing

Atmosphere:

For Special Occasions

Price:

$$$$ ($35 and up)

Sound check:

75 decibels (Must speak with raised voice)

Quick Take

Julia Ewan/The Washington Post

This restaurant has raised dining standards on its block by more than a few notches.

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Our Review

Critic rating:

2011 Fall Dining Guide
By Tom Sietsema
Sunday, October 16, 2011

"Anything you don't care for, or wish to have again?" the beguiling young server at Komi asks two diners who have previously had the great fortune of experiencing the modern Greek cooking of Johnny Monis. "We're in the chef's hands," I reply. There's no written menu; all we know is that the forthcoming feast in the most Spartan of four-star dining rooms will move from light to rich, from fish to meat to sweet, and involve a few surprises. First out of the kitchen is a pageant of finger foods. A bite of brioche with an orange cap of caviar, raw strips of red bream and mackerel as good as I've enjoyed from any sushi master, a trio of scallop presentations, and a crisp little package that comes with instructions to eat it in one bite. The moment our teeth sink into the golden dice, a river of liquid spanakopita rushes over our tongues. The dishes - exquisite pastas, a cocktail of smoke and peaches - arrive in easy succession, a pace that allows time to contemplate the ingenuity of one of the brightest stars in the Washington dining firmament. Sweetbreads with sea urchin and "figs from Johnny's dad's yard"? Magic. A bar of stamp-size flatbread alternating over and over again with beef tongue and ending with a tiny tomato salad is introduced as the chef's "100-layer gyro." Fun - and fab. The fantasy is suspended with a main dish of pork that is neither as succulent nor as crisp as I remember, but it picks up again with another sip of wine, some chocolate baklava, an engaging chat with the server, house-made salted lemon lollipops with the check. When can I come back?

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The most amazing dining experience

Posted by dimiccot | Feb 22, 2012 | Mark as Inappropriate

These comments above really surprise me. I am from New York City, one of the dining capitals of the world, and I have have the pleasure and good fortune of eating at several high-end restaurants, including Per Se, Le Bernadin, Daniel in New York City, Citronelle and City Zen in DC, Taillevant in Paris, and countless others. Komi is the star that stands out among all of the Michelin-starred restaurants. Nothing has yet been able to hold a candle to Komi. I have been twice and each experience was unique and memorable. I love the casual atmosphere, the knowledgable staff, and the creative and surprising flavor combinations of the food. Komi still is the best restaurant that I have ever had the pleasure of dining in.

Not worth the financial hangover.

Posted by elmackinnon1 | Nov 19, 2011 | Mark as Inappropriate

For our anniversary we secured a reservation at komi. We have had the pleasure of dining at several five star establishments around the country and komi is not on that list. The several small courses were uninspired and bland leading up to our main course of goat. We left the evening feeling as if we were the victims of a mugging- $500 was at least three times the amount dinner was worth. The only silver lining was the enjoyable servers and our wine, helping ease the pain.

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