Review Convivial - Washington DC

Jenne Acevedo

What an incredible French restaurant! Every dish was full of flavor and thoroughly enjoyed. The burratta salad had the perfect fall flavors. The boeuf bourgonion was excellent. I knew I had to get it the moment I saw another review on it. My husband loved his steak. Our drinks were good, and the creme brulee and lemon macaron were delicious for dessert. Gluten free and other allergens are clearly marked. Great options. And our server Dino was a delight. He did a great job taking care of us. Highly recommend.

Christopher Hill

Simply an exceptional/elite French dining experience in DC. Cozy atmosphere, impeccable service, and insanely delicious food. I’ll take this quasi-hidden gem over Le Dip any day of the year and twice on Bastille day lol. The desert menu is particularly incredible. All in all prices are very reasonable too for DC. 5/5 ⭐️. My new go to for French in the city.

Coral Medina

I came to Convivial with a group of 7 to celebrate a work accomplishment, and Convivial knocked it out of the park! The food was incredibly flavorful, the service was excellent and I loved that the menu was fresh and clearly rotated often. I would highly recommend checking out Convivial.

Vy H.

Had an amazing dinner here last night for dinner! Wasn’t crowded for a Thursday but we had made reservations in advance through Resy. Food was so delicious! For starters, loved both the Escargot and Crayfish Nantua—well flavored and good portions. For entrees, the Bouef Bourguignon was great—the beef was so tender. Would love to come back to try their other dishes.

Abigail Carpenter

Dino was our server. Very polite, prompt, checking in with us at convenient times. We sat on the patio and he offered us bug spray (for the mosquitos right away). The food was phenomenal. I had the cassoulet and the duck skin was perfectly crispy, the meat tender and flavorful. My boyfriend had the the steak, which was perfectly cooked and served with the most delicious fries. Our sincere compliments to the chef and staff.

Amber Kirtley

I recently hosted a private event at Convivial and I had the most amazing experience! From the first email to Elvis with my request to the last guest leaving it was too notch customer service. Several of the private event attendees travel extensively through France and two of them said the French onion soup and beef bourguignon were BETTER than any they had abroad. I can’t recommend Convivial enough for a private event! Also, on a personal note I’ve eaten here many times for brunch and dinner and have never had a bad meal and am always blown away by the kindness of the staff. This is a true gem of Shaw.

Matthew Rathbun

This was literally the best brunch experience I've ever had in my life. Convivial was recommended by a hotel staff member after hearing what I was looking for. We stopped by before they were open and they allowed us to be seated to stay out of cold. The staff was exceptionally polite, accommodating and took time to talk to us even after the crowd came in and the became busy. The restaurant is a perfect environment for comfortable brunch. Well decorated, contemporary and warm. The food... OMG. The food was outstanding and the drinks were mixed perfectly. I had the pork chop and it was simply delicious. Every single bite made me want to stop the world around me to enjoy it. I highly recommend trying it. If you're looking for delicious brunch, this has to be the best option in DC!

Matthew Laudone

Really enjoyed everything about this spot. Great space food and staff. The cassoulet is pretty dynamite and overall everything was excellent.

Nikolaos Giannopoulos

Truly some of the best food I've had on a date night! My partner and I went to celebrate Valentine's day, and the experience was excellent. Highly recommended if you're feeling French and are looking for high-quality food and well-sized portions. Drinks: We started with the Napoleon's Gain drink. I got mine with vodka (it normally comes with Gin) and it was similar to a Moscow Mule. My partner also got the Château des Antonins Cabernet Sauvignon with the main course. Food: The Foie Gras & Duck Liver Mousse was extremely tasty! For anyone who hasn't had it (I hadn't before), I'd recommend trying if you're feeling adventurous. My main course was the Loup de Mer (branzino) and it was perfectly cooked and very flavorful. My partner got the Cassoulet with duck, and it was great as well. Dessert: We got the Le Grand Rocher Jivara, which was essentially an oversized Ferrero Rocher. It was AMAZING, highly recommend. I got the recommended pairing (Graham's 20 Year Tawny Port)-- if you're feeling bougie I would go for it.

Colin Altman

Outstanding experience from start to finish at the unpretentious, Paris bistro style restaurant. Service was amazing, friendly, timely but not overbearing. Food was perfect; everything was delicious and perfectly served. Three cheers for the bartender as well - great drinks. Will definitely go back!

Idalee DiGregorio

What an amazing meal. So classic French and so beautifully executed. The carpachio was stunning and the cassoulet flavorful and fill with yummy ingredients. The consumme stole the show! Our waiter Carlos was so fun and attentive.

Shameer Zahid

I’ve been to Convivial three times now, and won’t be stopping any time soon. Their food is awesome (trust me and get the quiche). Their french onion soup is quite standard and doesn’t let you down. The have a pretty great dessert and cocktail selection too. The ambiance is interesting and eclectic, but works. Definitely worth a visit.

Kerri Knowles-Marr

Enjoyed an excellent Father's Day Brunch with the Family. Comfortable and totally delicious. We tried several dishes. All were outstanding! Look forward to dining there again soon.

Lily Grothe

I don't think I've ever smiled more during a meal! My partner and I are visiting from out of town, and we're wishing we lived here just so we could eat at Convivial more often. The entire staff was so kind and helpful. Our waiter, Carlos, was AMAZING! Definitely the best waiter I've met. He was spot on with recommendations and knew just how much attention to give throughout the meal. Speaking of... the food! Oh my goodness, everything had such wonderful flavor from the appetizer to dessert. We had the Quenelles Nantua, Boeuf Bourguignon, Cassoulet au Confit de Canard, Sticky Toffee Pudding, and L'Ile Flottante. I couldn't pick a favorite. They were all incredible. We ate almost every bite!

John Myrick

Exceptional food and staff make this a place worthy of 5 stars. Our Server was very helpful and knowledgeable regarding the menu selections. The escargot was exceptional, and our entrees were outstanding. Very reasonably priced; I would rate it as one of the finest restaurants in the city. We will definitely be back. Convival has our highest recommendation.

Jean Ng

The name says it all for the dining experience here. The room is well spaced out, warmly decorated and allow decent conversation with your meal parties. The food is really good if not outstanding. Ingredients are fresh and served in generous portions. I’m glad i didnt order any appetiser otherwise I wont be able to have room for more sinful dessert. Beet of my heart, I kid you not thats the cocktail I ordered. And you guessed it right it has beet in it. Its a concoction of burned beet syrup with bourbon. The drink sounded weirdly phony but its actually quite well mixed and tasted refreshing. Highly recommended

Scott Matus

Very good modern take on french cuisine. Quality ingredients, nice combination of flavors, and well cooked. We went for restaurant week and were very impressed. Very nice service too, and good wine list. Highlights were the Burrata, Grilled Daurade with Squid, and Chocolate Mousse (which was superb).