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100 Best Restaurants 2008: Komi

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli , Dave McIntyre

No. 3: Komi


Komi

1509 17th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-332-9200

Cuisines:
Greek/Mediterranean, American, Modern

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Nearby Metro Stops:
Dupont Circle

Price Range:
Very Expensive

Dress:
Upscale Casual

Noise Level:
Intimate

Reservations:
Required

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Mascarpone-stuffed dates; scallop with truffle emulsion and black truffles; spaghetti with sea urchin; roast suckling pig; baby goat.

Price Details:
Dinner menu, $135 per person.


 

Reader's Rating:
3.9 out of 5

Cuisine: Brilliant moments abound on these prix-fixe ($84) and multicourse degustazione ($104) menus that nod to Greece and Italy but are chef/owner Johnny Monis’s own thoroughly modern cuisine. Monis’s family hails from the Greek isle of Chios, but his approach to cooking is almost Spartan: pristine ingredients with minimal manipulation.

Mood: A bit austere—the former townhouse has bare-wood floors and Champagne walls with a few well-chosen antiques. As the place fills up—which doesn’t take long with only 12 tables—the room gets warmer. Sommelier Derek Brown, who has put together an original wine list, exudes charm and generosity—extra pours of Champagne, a nip of sherry just because.

Best for: Food lovers with time to spare—the three-course prix fixe (with extras) takes 2½ hours, the tasting menu more like 3½.

Best dishes: Mezzethakia such as the perfect house-cured olive, buttery amberjack sashimi with Maldon salt, crunchy slivers of breakfast radish with trout roe, and savory miniature goat gyros on house-made pita with tzatziki and pomegranate; veal-brain raviolini, both meaty- and buttery-tasting; tender spit-roasted goat served with house-made hot sauce and crunchy tzatziki slaw; salty caramel ice cream with chocolate.

Insider tips: Reserve at least a month in advance for weekends, three weeks for weekdays. Monis is fond of artisanal salt—even in dessert.

Service: ••••

Reader ReviewsWrite your own review
 
Below Average Not worth it
BigDem — August 11, 2011 12:41 AM
Half-smoke and a beer. That is an offering you get on the fixed menu with the "wine" pariing. Komi is excessively rated. They are too expensive and deliver absurd food. You can find a much better evening at half the price. And the atomsphere is More ...
This item is under review
 
Below Average Not worth it
BigDem — August 11, 2011 12:41 AM
Half-smoke and a beer. That is an offering you get on the fixed menu with the "wine" pariing. Komi is excessively rated. They are too expensive and deliver absurd food. You can find a much better evening at half the price. And the atomsphere is More ...
This item is under review
 
Excellent It Doesn't Get Any Better
von_selden — January 9, 2011 4:16 PM
Everything about this place is pretty much perfect. The food, ambience, and service are unbeatable. This isn't just dinner; it is an unforgettable experience.
This item is under review

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