January 2007: 100 Very Best Restaurants

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Cynthia Hacinli

Johnny Monis's place feels like a neighborhood restaurant but has the soul and ambition of something greater.

Komi

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

Cuisines:
Greek/Mediterranean, 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 date; scallop with dill and black truffle; a miniature cold-cut sandwich with house-made meats and house-baked bread; roasted baby pig or goat for two; Greek doughnuts with mascarpone-enriched chocolate.

Price Details:
Dinner menus, $84 to $104.


 

Reader's Rating:
4.3 out of 5

Komi ★★★½

 

Watching Komi these last few years has been like watching a precocious if gawky teenager turn into a poised adult. Most remarkable is that the transformation has occurred under a chef/owner, Johnny Monis, who’s only 27.

That maturity is reflected in the renovated dining room, a quiet, softly lit space. Monis’s cooking abounds in confidence, dispensing with the Modern American influences of a couple years ago to more fully embrace the flavors of his parents’ native Greece.

One of the best introductions to Monis’s style is the Mezzethakia tasting, a show of generosity (seven to nine courses) and virtuosity (dates stuffed with mascarpone and anointed with salt). The young staff seems to delight in bringing these little plates to the table. There’s a newfound depth and lustiness, too, from the foie-gras-stuffed agnolotti to the turbot with braised carrots to the capretto , a luscious dish of 48-hour-braised baby goat and soft polenta. For dessert, don’t miss the Greek-style doughnuts with mascarpone chocolate cream.

Komi has gone from promising to good to very good in a few years. What’s next?

Reader ReviewsWrite your own review
 
Excellent Sensational Yet Salty
Tayx2 — May 6, 2009 1:52 PM
After dining here the other night, I understand what all the fuss is about. This menu is an adventure from the start and doesn't stop until you are handed your Root Beer Lillipop and sent on your way. Each of his meals clearly tells a story and I More ...
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Excellent Relish and Gasp
thepresidentwearsprada — March 5, 2009 10:13 AM
This is a condensed recapitulation of the outstanding meal I had at Komi. The menu consists of two choices: 1-You decide on your pasta and main dish and the chef picks your starters (Mezzethakia)
2-The Degustazione where the chef selects everything More ...
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Average just okay
robinw — February 27, 2009 9:17 AM
I was very disappointed after reading so much about this supposedly wonderful restaurant. Yes, the food was good, but not exquisite. Yes, the service was good, but not outstanding. The austere atmosphere was not intriguing, but it was austere. For More ...
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