Minibar at Cafe Atlantico

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli

A thrilling 30-plus course carnival of culinary surprises.

Minibar at Cafe Atlantico

405 Eighth St., NW
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 202-393-0812

Cuisines:
Spanish/Portuguese, Modern

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
No

Nearby Metro Stops:
Archives-Navy Memorial
Gallery Place-Chinatown

Price Range:
Very Expensive

Dress:
Upscale Casual

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Required

Parking:
Valet

Website:
Click here to open in new window.

Best Dishes
Olive-oil bonbons; “tumbleweed of beet”; cotton-candy-swathed eel; faux sun-dried tomatoes; salmon-pineapple “ravioli” with quinoa; roasted baby corn with sweet-corn purée; Thai frozen yogurt.

Price Details:
$125 per person.


 

Reader's Rating:
5 out of 5

From January 2006 100 Very Best Restaurants

THE SCENE. Culinary adventurers of all stripes huddle six at a time on high stools at a copper counter for one of the most intense, creative, and intimate dining experiences in the country. In this pocket-size corner of Café Atlántico--Minibar is a restaurant within a restaurant--José Andrés's team of chefs surprise, delight, and seduce with 30-some bite-size morsels crafted before your eyes, a sensory experience sure to get a rise out of even jaded foodies.

WHAT YOU'LL LOVE. The creativity, the precise orchestration of every miniature, and the heady feeling that another thrill is a moment away.

WHAT YOU WON'T. Some experiments, like a tasteless green-pea caviar, don't come off, and the overall effect probably could be achieved with fewer courses. Once you've experienced this dazzling tour de force--which is less about eating than about tasting and more a performance than a meal--you're not likely to feel a need to return next week.

Reader ReviewsWrite your own review
 
Excellent In Brief...
Jandru — January 23, 2009 2:19 PM
The one thing that I would want to make very clear to anyone who is thinking about Minibar, is it will be WORTH IT. Every penny of the bill. Every minute you spend hammering on the speed dial trying to get yourself a reservation and every day you More ...
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