Bistro @ The Porch

Review summary

1. J

   Jerry

   Richmond

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Love everything about this restaurant…quaint and excellent!
   

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2. N

   Nanci

   VIP

   Washington DC

   88 reviews

   4.0

   88 reviews

   Dined on 5 January 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   I love the location and the homey feel of the Bistro
   

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3. S

   Sonya

   Washington DC

   5 reviews

   3.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 1 January 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   This was our first time visiting this restaurant. The decor and ambiance was very nice. The service was good. But we were extremely disappointed with the food. We thought since it was a pre-fixe menu, that it would be hard to mess up. We arrived at 8:30, and we had reservations, so you would think they would be better prepared for late diners. I had the seafood bisque, which I could not eat. It was like pudding. My husband had prime rib, which he asked to be medium rare. It was well done. If they couldn't serve medium rare, it would have been nice to be offered an alternative. I had the shrimp and lobster pasta. There was only a small piece of lobster thrown in so they could call it shrimp "and lobster". The shrimp was grilled separately and thrown in with the pasta and sauce. While the shrimp was tasty, the seasonings just didn't go with the sauce. And finally, dessert: my husband had bread pudding, which was okay. But again, my dessert of a flourless chocolate torte with raspberry coulis, was inedible. First, there was no raspberry coulis. The chocolate was like fudge, topped with what was supposed to be chocolate mousse and a dollop of whipped cream. The mousse was heavy and also pudding like. It was incredibly sweet, and I could not eat it. We really didn't want to complain, because they were very busy, and we weren't sure anything else would have been better. We watched a server argue with someone about a table, and she was too busy to take them. This really didn't bother us, but I'm sure management wouldn't appreciate it. We may visit again, but it will most likely be for brunch. Definitely not a special dinner.
   

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4. M

   Mary

   Washington DC

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 31 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Truly a delight in every aspect! We experienced some of the most amazing melt in your mouth tastes from the bisque to the chocolate and incredible perfectly executed entrees especially the lamb and the salmon! The atmosphere was quaint and festive for New Years. Thank you so much.
   

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5. S

   Sandra

   Washington DC

   8 reviews

   1.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on 31 December 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   Service was slow to not at all, food was mediocre, bland and cold. I have been enjoying this venue for over 10 years and have always had the best experience! My favorite restaurant! I am so disappointed. I had planned a January brunch with friends, but I do not think I want to risk the embarrassment, as I have raved about the eating experience so many times.
   

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6. R

   Rob

   Southwest Florida

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined on 31 December 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   Very disappointing visit. Service was slow, orders delivered incorrectly, didn’t even clear the table from one course while trying to serve the next, and constantly had to flag down any server to get anything done. Food was marginal…cold potatoes. Bill was incorrect (charged for something ordered but not delivered). Hugely overpriced.
   

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7. K

   Kimberly

   Richmond

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 27 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Our first visit, and not our last. Delicious food and wine. Service was stellar!
   

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8. A

   Andrea

   VIP

   Washington DC

   54 reviews

   3.0

   54 reviews

   Dined on 24 December 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Nice local spot for solid meal. Generous portions of tasty food.
   

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9. S

   Shayne

   Washington DC

   15 reviews

   5.0

   15 reviews

   Dined on 24 December 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   The food was fantastic. The atmosphere was great and the holiday season was well represented. Our server, I believe her name was Roberta was atrocious submiss and not attended at all, but that was not the instance with all the other servers they made sure that we were taken care of.
   

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10. L

    Lisa

    Washington DC

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 December 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    First I will say that the main thing is our server was fantastic. Kind, attentive and accommodating. I was having lunch with my baby’s god mother with baby in tow. The place is not ADA compliant . I had to remove the car seat from the stroller and carry them separately up a short flight of steps. But they sat us in a corner booth and it worked out perfectly. It is a smaller restaurant so having the stroller there was a little bulky but no one made complaints. I can’t remember our servers name but he was very kind. Made every food adjustment I requested, the food itself was very good. I had the crab dip, burger (with adjustments) and a peach mocktail (I recommend requesting ginger beer to replace ginger ale. Trust me.) my friend got the birrira cheesesteak sandwich and the clam chowder. She enjoyed both. When I needed to warm up a bottle (my baby is 2 months old) he graciously provided a mug of hot water. In summary: my only complaint was accessibility, doable but very inconvenient to have to carry a stroller up steps. The star was our waiter, he was kind and accommodating.
    

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