Excellent food, no passion

We had been meaning to try Palena for quite some time because of its consistent placement in the Dining Guide. We went for a birthday and had one of the prix fixe menus in the dining room. The food was all very nicely and perfectly prepared, but we thought ambiance was lacking here. The restaurant felt as if it had no personality or passion (and I'm not talking about decor). The waiter was polite, but distant. There didn't seem to be anyone who was the "face" of the restaurant.And after asking when I made the reservation if it was a special occasion, they did nothing to acknowledge it, so I'm not sure why they asked. The bottom line is that though the food was very good, there are other places with equally good food and more.

honestly..

this is the best food in the city hands down. Wait and wait some more because it's worth it, from burger to foie gras terrine; it's going to be hard to find better in DC or anywhere else in the world... this place has food that few will ever get the chance to eat... so awesome, I can't say enough. go and eat.

Good food but poor service

We went to Palena for dinner, mostly to try the upscale burger and fries from the cafe menu. It took a very long time for anyone to take our order after we were seated; in another situation we might have walked out. However, when the food did come it was generally excellent. The burgers are simple but incomparably moist, tender, and tasty. The fries are crisp and flavorful, but also surprisingly inventive, including fried mashed potatoes and fries lemon slices, and the spicy mayo makes a great accompaniment. The only thing that was really disappointing was the cheese plate: The selection wasn't all that interesting, the portion was smaller than any cheese plate I've seen elsewhere, and the plating was pretty unimaginative.