My wife and I are here in Washington, DC for a month, and felt it was time to dine at our first Michelin restaurant since we don’t have any in Hawaii.
I glanced at a list of Michelin-starred restaurants in the city and was surprised to find several. I wanted a fun vibe and a friendly introduction. Roses Luxury made the list, and I got excited that it was exactly what I was looking for. The marketing and visuals on their website looked quirky and fit the celebratory feeling we wanted for a weekend in a new city.
Expectedly, most of the Michelin-starred restaurants on the list barely had any available time slots, even three or four weeks in advance. We got lucky when we finally found a reservation. My wife’s Amex Platinum card unlocked a hidden time slot in Resy.
We’re still unfamiliar with DC, so we took a Lyft to the restaurant. The busy road the restaurant lies on barely had any parking, so keep that in mind if you’re driving.
Attire
My outfit leaned casual, but I didn’t feel out of place. We were sightseeing during the day, so I wore comfortable white low-top laced shoes, black trousers, a simple Uniqlo top, and an H&M jacket.
Vibe
Our reservation was at 6:15 pm, but we got there 15 minutes early. The staff still greeted us enthusiastically, asking if we were celebrating a special occasion, and promptly seated us at a table upstairs. The vibe was cozy and charming, with dim lights and intimate seating in front of the window.
Service
Service was warm and attentive. Our server asked again if we were celebrating anything special. I noticed they brought a cute centerpiece with possible treats on a table next to us–they probably were.
Though we weren’t celebrating a special occasion, they still provided responsive service. It was our first time dining there, so our server and staff made sure to explain the experience and each dish that came out.
Wine pairing
My wife ordered the wine pairing for an extra $75. It came with six pours; one was a surprise cocktail while waiting for the first course. I ordered the spicy margarita and a Cabernet Sauvignon. I admit those didn’t grab my attention as much as I wished. Next time I’ll also order the wine pairing. My wife let me sip each wine in the pairing and felt they were perfectly matched with each dish.
Prix fixe Menu
The food at Roses Luxury was obviously the star of the show. The flavors in each dish were impeccable. If I had to pick which dish I liked less, it would be the udon and the salmon. Overall, we had a positive experience with the prix fixe menu.
The restaurant only served the prix fixe menu that Saturday night. However, it was flexible, with the option to choose among dishes for certain courses.
The night started with milk bread and a miso garlic honey butter. Then my wife and I picked the Pork and Lychee Salad and the Bloomin’ Green Tomato for the first course. Each portion was sized to share. According to the server, they’re known for the pork and lychee salad. The dish was refreshing, the lychee a sweet accent. Unexpectedly, my wife and I both preferred the fried onion course. It felt fun and nostalgic. The sauce was perfectly made.
Next, a generously portioned surprise dish. I won’t spoil it here, but the sauce was rich, and the seasoning was spot-on.
For our second course, I chose the Pasta en Papillote. I didn’t know what to expect. I asked our server what kind of dish it was, and she described it bluntly as mac and cheese. And it was! The best mac and cheese I’ve ever tasted. The sauce was decadent, and the topping had the perfect crispiness to add texture.
We shared the Salmon with Sorrel as our main entree. It was cooked till the right flakiness; the sauce was creamy and flavorful. I did wish my salmon was seasoned a bit more.
For dessert, we wanted something unique we can’t get back home, and we didn’t go wrong with the Cornbread Fried Ice Cream. It was savory and decadent. My sweet tooth was definitely satisfied.
Last thoughts
Roses Luxury was a charming start to our Michelin journey. It had a cozy, quirky vibe and wasn’t intimidating or stuffy. The service warm and attentive. Each dish was amazing with memorable flavor. It lived up to our expectations, and I can see why the restaurant is well reviewed. The prix fixe menu was definitely worth it (and also the wine pairing). At the end of our meal, they gave us a to-go bag with a surprise treat, the fitting end to a whimsical night.
