Cafe Atlantico, what do you think??

[elegantelliot]

i hear all the hype about Minibar, and i was curious if Cafe Atlantico is anything close? Going out with some friends, none of which have the patience or the desire to do the Minibar, though i cant wait to try it one day. Is it worth going to Atlantico, or should we go to one of the many other great restaurants in the city??

[Pool Boy]

I think Cafe Atlantico is decent, and occasionally impressive and unique. My wife and I usually get there once or twice a year, usually when a place we're hoping to try is closed and find ourselves nearby here, usually after some sort of outing in that area. Not a bad place at all, and certainly lunch-worthy in my book...

[nc213]

we had a really delicious meal there in April after not having been in years. The food was great and the service was pleasant. I've wanted to go back ever since.

[Elyssa]

I've been there at least 3 times and have always had steller food and pretty good service. My only complaint was during our HUGE dim sum brunch, they just kept bringing out the food waaaaay to fast. That meal should have lasted at least 2-3 hours with all that food and I think we clocked in at about 1 1/2 hours. Service should have been slower or adjusted when the waiter noticed we were taking more time with everything. Truth be told we should have been more forward about asking them to slow down instead of discussing it with the waiter in a joking manner.

[KWynn]

I've only been for a work lunch, but loved it. Definitely the closest thing to what I had on my honeymoon in Los Cabos. Looking forward to going back again soon for dinner with my husband. Sorry, but I can't remember what I ate, other than the guac (MUCH better than Rosa Mexicana's)

[elnora]

i love cafe atlantico. went there for a work dinner, and we had: great guacamole, delicious fois gras soup (they came around and poured a broth in our bowl), delicious scallops... but the fois gras soup with the corn was just so good. i wanted to lick the bowl.

[don theodore]

in february i went to the minibar, after about a month of waiting. if you do go you'll probably have to make your reservations a month in advance, this place fills up very quick, seeing as though they only have seating for 6, that's right 6. they bill it as a restaurant inside a restaurant. minibar and cafe Atlántico are nothing alike, the dining experience at mini bar is something you are unlikely to experience any where around here (if so let me know). you will be entertained with 32 courses, small portions but 32 courses none-the-less. the chefs were great, a lot of variations and interpretations of everyday meals. if you go, just keep an open mind and palette.

[jpschust]

minibar is indeed a separate entity from Atlantico, even though it sits within Atlantico and the food, while seemingly unique and seemingly adventurous often falls short of its intentions by failing to exhibit the balance and thoughtfulness such courses deserve. Minibar regularly fails to live up to the Adria style experience of altering taste expectations , whereas the limited number of other places cooking in this style throughout the world are more effective at doing this You are correct in that you are unlikely to experience this type of food anywhere around here as this tends to be a very very conservative dining area, but it is indeed unique.

[Pool Boy]

I think you're right in general, jpschust, but it's still worth a trip, particularly for those of us who've not dined in this manner before. I thought it was pretty kewl.

www.roguefood.com

[ChocoHound]

Try the Latin Dim Sum brunch. It's just wonderful.

[Steve]

I've been there twice. Some of the food was good, some was not. Nothing I would describe as 'great' and nothing that makes me want to go back. I do not consider it to be close to the Minibar experience, although some folks have posted that the Latina Dim Sum brunch on weekends is.

[baconjen]

I have season Shakespeare tickets and find myself there a couple times a year when I'm not in a tapas mood. It's always been consistent, and I love their guacamole (made tableside and you get to determine how spicy). I have had great duck confit there - just falling off the bone. Nice atmosphere too.

[DanielK]

You actually remind me that we ordered the guacamole at the bar before we sat down for dinner - and it was fantastic. Better than Rosa Mexicano, and the guacamole and margaritas are the only reasons to go to RM!

[baconjen]

Oh yeah - WAY better guacamole than Rosa Mexicana. Great drinks too - forgot to mention that - especially mojitos and some other thing that begins with the letter c.

I keep meaning to start a post to slam the DC Rosa Mexicana.

[mrspvr]

capirianha?

[DanielK]

I seem to remember that capirianhas are on the menu, though I won't swear to it.

[Elyssa]

When I was there a month ago they were on the brunch menu but I haven't tasted them. Instead I had a mango mojito that was really good...but nothing like a traditional mojito.

[Elyssa]

Their duck confit is incredible!! I had it during the brunch and its so different then typical French duck confit. I think it had some sort of crystalized sugar on it or something because it almost tasted like candy on the outside. Very good!!!

[DanielK]

I had a great meal there last month before a show at the Shakespeare. Don't remember exactly what we got, but we ordered off the pre-theater menu, and we were both extremely pleased with our selections.

It was our first time there, and we definitely added it to our "will return" list.

[zelda68]

I haven't been in about 2 years, but I love Cafe Atlantico. Food is great and there's just something about the place that I love. And the rose petal sorbet rocks. And great mojitos.

I think it's time for me to go back.