CIRCA at Dupont

Another day here for happy hour. Not a very lucrative place, but it has life in it. It’s right across from the Farragut North Metro stop so that’s awesome! It is definitely accessible, but small during peak times. A lot of people come by and a lot of people stand around.
The prices increased over the past year but it is still okay … ish. Not a good place for a deal, but a good place to meet someone quickly after work for a quick drink. With the accessibility and the ambiance, it’s a go to place if you have no clue where to go.

This place is a solid 2 stars, but the outside seating area definitely gives it another half star which rounds up to three.
Food is definitely Ok. They do exchange calories for money here. But not taste or quality. Like if you want a good burger, BGR across the street serves great burgers. But there is no table service at BGR. Here, however, there definitely some idea of service: sometimes people bring you stuff… And you only have to ask 4 – 5 times. Only sometimes 6 or 7.
But you can sit outside. One benefit: an out of tune karaōke singer can serenade you while you consume the calories you exchanged for US$.

We went to Circa for brunch today and really enjoyed it. I ordered the blood orange bellini and the blackened chicken mango salad. Probably the best salad I ever ate! I definitely will be back!

5 Stars. This is the first time I have given a restaurant 5 stars! We made a late dinner reservation here this past Saturday night. From the moment we walked in the door to the moment we walked out everything was delightful. We were seated immediately thanks to our reservation because at 8:30pm the place was still very crowded.
I started with the vodka mojito cocktail which had big chunks of strawberries and mint in it! Very delicious and refreshing. We also ordered two appetizers to start with the Brussels & Blue which was brussels with smoked bacon, blue cheese, with a balsamic glaze and then we ordered the Calamari Frito Misto that was calamari, zucchini, squash and sweet peppers, fried but not too heavy, light and crispy!
I then ordered the salmon salad, which this piece of deliciously-​amazing salmon that sat on top of mixed greens with this champagne vinaigrette. I would order it again and again and again!
Our server was entertaining, sweet, helpful, and made our evening fun. The environment was casual and classy and I would highly recommend this place for dinner!

I wanted to his them five stars but my server kept to himself, didn’t know my name, didn’t introduce himself, didn’t ask how my food or drinks were, and when I went to the bathroom he dumped my drink. My neighbor was like she had half a drink left and he said she should have put a napkin on it. I wasn’t even asking and he copped a tude that was unnecessary considering he already saw my 25% tip. But besides him ruining it the food was amazing, the atmosphere was awesome, my drinks were made well, and the crowd was my type of people. If I lived here this would be my GO TO. The short rib sliders were out of this world and on HH. The margarita flatbread was so delicious and garlicky (no kissing after that meal).

Visiting from NYC. Went with two other people at 6:30 with a reservation. We were seated immediately and service was wonderful. Our waitress was so friendly! We ended up getting a bunch of small plates to split– cheese plate, hummus, mushroom flatbread, sliders, Mac and cheese (no meat), and jambalaya. Cheese plate was sub par– sad actually. Tiny cheeses and not enough crackers not variety. But the hummus plate and mushroom flatbread were incredible. Ask for balsamic glaze for the flatbread– perfect combo. Mac and cheese was meh, not that cheesy. And my friends said the jambalaya was more like pasta with some shrimp and chicken. But they loved the sliders! And we all split the Nutella dish for dessert; it was killer!

I had brunch here with my boyfriend and a bestie – the food was delicious and the service was stellar.
I recommend getting the calamari, it was very flavorful and cooked just right (nice and tender); as well as, the bison burger total yum!
Also, the drinks at this place were pretty strong. We all got buzzed after 2 drinks each.

Went today with my girlfriend and loved it!
Great atmosphere and very friendly staff!
We got the Cobb salad wraps which we had never heard of before and they were out of this world! Hoochie mama they were good! There were four wraps and had tons of taste. We also got Tomato SHRIMP bisque which once again HOOCHIE MAMA! Then we both got the grilled chicken sandwich with a side salad to substitute the fries. Everything was awesome. Also the prices were reasonable and location was prime time. Amazing lunch spot! 5 stars.

Wonderful place for a fantastic brunch! We ordered the chicken biscuits and gravy, the American breakfast and the egg white omelette were seriously all amazing! I’d highly recommend!!!

Very small location, but you can sit at the bar or the tall long high top tables fairly quickly with full menu. The menu is extensive with several items that are hard to choose from. The grilled chicken and mango salad is fabulous as the grilled chicken is super tasty. The Turkey Burger is quite good too with real fresh ground turkey and a thick cut that will fill even the bigger appetites (comes with sweet potato fries — score). They have a rotating beer menu of some local and some other favorites. Staff was friendly and efficient to bring you a pitcher of water when needed. I have been meaning to try the Foggy Bottom location, but this one worked for my travel plans, so I assume they are about the same.

Came here for brunch. Sat at the long shared table. It was nice to sit with others and not have to wait for a table. Brunch was great with reasonable prices. $ 4 mimosa :)
Ordered the huevos rancheros they were very tasty. Also, the home fries were outstanding. Can’t wait to visit DC again just to go back. Would recommend to any one in the dupont area.

Very yummy takes on classic American comfort food. The service is friendly and prompt. Definitely feels a bit more like a bar than a restaurant due to the music and TVs, though I didn’t find the noise too overwhelming to interfere with my conversation. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a peaceful dinner, this may not be the spot for you. Communal tables take up most of the space indoors, so unless you’re up to making some new friends, you may want to consider making reservations.

Super friendly, fast, courteous service. Lovely lunch menu and easy to order wine list.
Delicious food.
Cloth napkins at a café — bonus points.
Cheap — very affordable for the quality of food.
Clientele — yucky. «Dudes» were ordering and being served beer in coffee mugs on lunch hour as not to get «caught.»
And the filthy mouths on everyone — Not family friendly.
There is a giant TV over the bar that negates the earlier bonus points,
Oy. Why must there be tv’s everywhere… Endless.

My party of three had NYE dinner at this location. Overall, attentive service and really good food. Don’t be dismayed by the three and a half star Unilocal rating. I was pleasantly surprised with our order.
Beverages:
two cokes and one cocktail
Appetizers:
BBQ chicken flatbread-​crispy with tasty cheese, BBQ sauce and grilled red onions.
Mac n cheese-​cheesy, delicious, and hearty with bacon bits.
Petit filet mignon sliders-​waiter recommended that it be cooked medium. The filet was a bit too chewy/​pink in the center, but the bread rolls they were served with were nice and toasted. Also served with a delicious blue cheese sauce.
Crab cakes– there were only two crab cakes. It was a bit too lemony IMO, but served with a side of fries.
Dessert:
Brioche bread pudding-​gooey, caramel drizzled, and satisfying with a serving of vanilla ice cream that had a crunchy corn flake topping.
Total without tip: $ 90

Went last night on a Wednesday night and it was packed and loud, but not too loud to make conversation. Made a reservation so we got seated immediately. Our drinks and food were fast. I got the Steak Frites medium rare. The meat was good — their medium rare is pretty pink and the fries are just aight. Decent spot for an after work meal.

This cozy little bistro is packed with food choices. The staff are friendly. I arrived early to meet with my peeps. No one minded that I waited at the bar for a while. The menu is varied and has several veggie options. If you want a fun meal with friends, this is the place to visit. If you need a private conversation, you should go somewhere else. This spot is easy to reach via metro. I’ll be back!

We were here for a birthday party on a Saturday night and we promptly seated. The host were nice to seat us even we had a few stranglers that were taking a bit to arrive. Our server was attentive and quick to take our drink orders and appetizer while we wait for the rest of the guest to show up.
I had the filet mignon special which was cooked perfectly to my liking (medium rare). It came with a vegetable side and sweet potato (purée?). Portions are a little smaller than most places but it filled me up. It was a 7 ounce filet mignon and it cost about 25. I also stole a piece of the wild mushroom flat bread from the girlfriend and it was delicious. Ended up taking another piece of her plate while she wasn’t looking. It had a good serving of arugula on it which I like and it came with truffle oil, Gruyère and Parmesan cheese. Definitely a good dish that I would order next time.
A few things to keep in mind. The place gets a little pack later on the night (after 9 pm) with the drinking crowd. Most dining area are very close to the bar so you will have some people rubbing your back as they walk by you. It wasn’t the end of the world for me but I can definitely see how it will annoy some people. It would probably be less of a problem when it’s warmer outside as they have a pretty decent size patio to offset the dining crowd.
Overall decent experience, good food and I will be looking forward to come back for more wild mushroom flatbread.

Not a huge plan of the layout, but the filet mignon sliders are worth it! Skip the lobster ravioli and dive in like the carnivore you know you want to be. The shrimp have a great sweet and sticky glaze, but my craving resides with the sliders! Enjoy!

We ended up here by way of a restaurant list from our hotel concierge — and were pleasantly surprised!
Great spot to sit outside and done al fresco. My meal was vegan (salad was slightly customized) and staff very attentive.

Came here for dinner. I had the scallops ($ 25) which comes with three scallops, risotto, and some veggies. The restaurant was pretty busy for a Thursday night. We sat inside at the bar height table. It was noisy and the music was loud so it is not a good place to go if you want to have a conversation. Service is fine. Nice and attentive but felt slow when we wanted the check. Nice place to go with friends or a small group.

Finally! A decent meal in Dupont Circle! I tried a few places and they seemed more miss than hit. Circa was a hit all around. The restaurant was cozy and the service was friendly and attentive. I ordered the bruschetta for an appetizer, the blackened salmon for dinner, and the nutella parfait for dessert. They were all outstanding.
The bruschetta had some crisp but not overdone bread that had just the right amount of oil and garlic. The tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil were all super fresh and tasty. The salmon was cooked perfectly, a nice sear to form a crust on the outside but very tender, flaky flesh on the inside. It came atop of bed of vegetables and a tomato sauce. It was a very harmonious dish. The nutella parfait was just awesome, who wouldn’t like chocolate cake, nutella and whipped cream?
I had a few glasses of wine as well, they have a nice wine list with someone for everyone. I would definitely eat at Circa again.

Having been to the Circa in Clarendon a bunch of times, we noticed this location was much smaller BUT had much better service. The friendly bartender took a shot at making my signature Espresso martini and did a fantastic job, without almost any input from me (I’m actually amazed how few people in this city know how to make a proper Espresso martini). Garnished with espresso beans and all. Extra point.
I ordered the blackened ahi tuna for dinner and it was delicious. I’ve noticed that all around Circa delivers a quality meal and drinks at every turn; this location is no exception. And with the extra touch of affable service, it gets a solid 4 stars.

What a nice restaurant. I don’t know if it has recently been remodeled, but it sure looks like it has. The details are fantastic. We sat at the worst table of the house. You know the one near the restroom and kitchen entances. That said, it was a wonderful place to sit. Large leather are chairs at a generous table for 4. The look is modern done well.
The brunch food was very good. I had Eggs Benedict and home fries. It was all perfectly prepared.
The wait staff was professional and let us linger. It was nice not to be rushed.
This is a good place. Go and enjoy.

I sat at the bar and ordered a beer.
The draft tasted warmer than it should have.
Overall, this place sucked.
I waited forever after ordering my drink for someone to take my order, so I decided to just close out.
Of course It took forever for my check to get brought to me and forever for my card to get ran, etc., etc. when the place was not busy.

I came here for brunch and sat on the patio which was pretty. Our waiter (Ricky) was extremely helpful and accommodating to dietary restrictions which was very refreshing. I think the food here is well priced and the menu options are pretty standard as far as brunch goes. The chicken and biscuits were very good, but the poached eggs were not runny which was disappointing; the egg frittata was very good with seasonal veggies. I would say I would come back for a dependable good meal but nothing really stands out.

My bf and I visited Circa at Dupont last night, as part of our celebration of our first date, exactly two years ago yesterday (on January 31, 2013). We were supposed to have our first date at Circa two years ago, but it was too busy that night, so we opted for Raku (the sushi bar across the street) instead. We decided to finally visit Circa last night and got pre-​dinner drinks. I had also previously eaten the lettuce wraps from Circa at Taste of DC in Oct 2014.
We really liked the atmosphere at Circa — quick service, nice ambiance, not too crowded this time, and a nice house red wine (for me) and beer (for my bf). The only downside is that they don’t let you sit at the regular tables unless you’re ordering food. It would have been nice to have that option, as bar seating wasn’t as intimate and was a bit uncomfortable after a while (what with the bartenders hearing our every word).
Other than that, we had an enjoyable time at Circa in Dupont. Good drinks and a good time. Oh, and somebody near us ordered a truffled dish that smelled delicious!