The Imperial

Had a great time at the Imperial for restaurant week!!Their espresso martini was the first espresso martini I've liked!! I finally get the hype!The food portions were probably fitting for a nice restaurant (small), so I was glad to get to go for a Restaurant Week lunch! The staff were very friendly!That being said, all the food was fantastic, I wanted more of everything! Pictured are the espresso martini, BLT, hangover bowl, and apple pie cinnamon roll that came with the Restaurant Week lunch!

This review reflects my experience dining out with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that requires me to maintain a diet free of gluten (including cross contact).SERVICE: 5/5 starsDRINKS: 4/5 starsFOOD: 4/5 starsAMBIANCE: 3.5/5 starsVALUE: 4/5 starsOVERALL RATING: 4/5 starsI may be biased, but The Imperial is my favorite restaurant in Adams Morgan. I love stopping in and grabbing a drink at the bar--while busy, it's rarely too crowded to grab a seat. Happy hour offerings are generous, and the staff are great.Most recently, I had brunch at The Imperial with friends. When I told the server I was gluten-free, he provided a menu annotated to indicate which items were safe for me to consume (many with modification). While I had anticipated ordering a series of sides, I was able to modify the Imperial breakfast to include only those items free of gluten and without cross-contamination (which is what I wanted to order anyway).To accompany my breakfast, I had a classic mimosa. It was larger, in size, than a standard pour and tasted fresh--no sitting on the sidebar, decarbonating, while waiting to be ordered.I will be back to The Imperial soon!

Whatever service hiccups led to some low reviews on here have clearly been sorted out by management. We had a prhenomenal experience at The Imperial last week. We aren't surprised at its mention in the Michelin Guide, and frankly it deserves Bib Gourmand. We tried a huge portion of the menu: shaved Caesar, red oak salad, crab claws (two kinds), rockfish, beef Wellington, Parker house rolls. We would order any of those again in a heartbeat. Same with the cocktails. On the service side, they were instantly responsive when I mentioned that my wife was cold in the main dining room. They moved us up to the rooftop and didn't miss a beat. They also deftly handled a few menu alterations. The miracle is that you can still generally get a table, which is tougher at some nearby spots that we (frankly) don't think punch at Imperial's weight. If you live in Admo, DuPont, or really anywhere in NW DC, you're doing it wrong if Imperial isn't in your regular rotation.

Had great service, food, drinks, and ambiance on a Saturday night! I think this is a hidden gem. I say hidden bc it is at the south end of the 18th St business strip and at the western end of U St (Florida Ave NW). Def worth a visit. Cocktails are spot on. The food was small portions (small plates) so if you get a few you can share. They probably have larger portions too, we stayed small: Oysters Rockefeller, Beef Wellington (it's like 5 oz), and scallops (you get 2).

Pretty good food! We came in on a Friday on a whim and were able to get seated right away. The staff was really attentive and helpful at recommending items and everyone seemed really happy. Onto the food, the food was actually pretty good! We started with the Parker house rolls and the scallops and then ordered their rockfish and steak. The rockfish was really nice and light, but didn't have too much flavor. I didn't mind that personally, since that's kind of what I wanted anyway. Loved the steak. The interior is gorgeous and really bright. Kind of feels art deco-y.

We live less than a block from the Imperial but somehow never got around to eating there until last week. It's a beautiful interior with high ceilings and a modern vibe. Despite the mixed reviews, we had a great meal. The service was very friendly and attentive. The crab cake sliders were delicious- we order one to share as an appetizer and my dad liked it so much he ordered another one for his dinner! I really liked my fish and chips, definitely one of the better values on the menu (thanks to our server for recommending it!). I was a tad disappointed by the crab claw appetizer (not the big claws but the tiny legs!) and the beef skewer appetizer (a bit tough and not a ton of flavor). The scallops were tasty but on the small side, and the steak was good but not memorable. I'll definitely be back for happy hour wines (loved the albarino) and the fish and chips!

I had the most amazing brunch experience at The Imperial! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was inviting and the service was top-notch. The variety of food options made it hard to choose, but we started off with the flavorful crab claws, though they could have been a tad warmer. However, the taste was impeccable. The mimosas were flowing, and while we had to remind the waiter a couple of times, they were always prompt and accommodating. As for the main course, the burger was outstanding - tender beef, crispy fries, and a bun so soft it practically melted in my mouth. The Imperial is definitely a must-visit spot!

Came here for happy hour on a Sunday. Not too crowded. Hnfoetunately as of Sprinf 2024 happy hour no longer includes ousters. Staff super friendly, food had small portions but was tasty. The sandwiches were the best deal on HH menuLobster roll - 4/5 delicious and perfectly buttery but very smallBeef Au sus - 5/5 not picturedBlue crab claws - small portionBeef wellington - 3/5 again small

We wanted to check out this spot for their restaurant week menu for $40 per person for a three course prixe menu isnt too bad. Althought, the service was great and the ambiance was esthetical pleasing the food just didnt match to it. We ordered one of each of their appetizers and salad it was just okay. Nothing different that we have tried at other places. The dessert was the best dish out of the whole menu. The most disappointing part was the entree we ordered a Beef Wellington and the Pan Seared Rockfish. The beef wellington was way too chewy for our liking but had good sauce that came with it. The rockfish was way too fishy with the miso which we had to send back and instead ordered the chicken. Even the chicken wasnt that impressive because the creamy spaetzle had no seasoning as well as the chicken itself. When it comes to the drinks it was okay could be better. Overall the ambience of the restaurant is beautiful and the service was great! We are a food vlogger on Instagram and we will be posting a food reel for you all @ja.deliciousfoods

Service was done well. Since we were there on the weekend, we had brunch. We had deviled eggs and steak skewers for appetizers. Great taste with thyme on the skewers. We had the western omelet, bacon and eggs sandwich, and fish & chips sandwich. We had the bottomless mimosa too.