Food was spectacular and the service was outstanding. We had a large table and everything went smoothly from beginning to end. I love this place and will be back soon! I hear the brunch is fabulous too!!!
Rachel N.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Washington, DC
I came here last night with some old coworkers. I picked this place based on the menu looking fantastic, and as I am departing DC, wanted a memorable farewell dinner. We sat on the patio which was really nice, and started with some carafes of wine. The white was supposed to be a pinot grigio, but definitely tasted like Chardonnay. Then the food. It was mediocre at best. We had to season everything with salt. We got the house made ricotta(meh), the mussels(sauce was awesome, mussels were just OK), and the octopus(probably one of the better dishes). For entrees, we split ½ portion of the gnocchi(really disappointing), steak(nothing special) which came with truffle fries which were not crispy, eggplant parm(soggy), and the spaghetti which was pretty solid. For dessert we got the doughnut, and the olive oil cake — both of which between 4 people didn’t get finished because the calories of the dry desserts just weren’t worth it to us. The bill was reasonable, and the service was fine, but the food left A LOT to be desired. Sigh.
Trey T.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Brandon, MS
The food was great… The service was horrible! We were seated, but we not noticed for over 20 minutes. We saw our sever 3 times for a 2 hour dinner.
Rosalyn M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Washington, DC
We chose this restaurant for brunch recently because of its proximity to the zoo. I am usually not a huge fan of buffets but this one had a lot of great offerings. We had a baby in our party which also made it a great choice because of ease and not having to wait for our food, etc. Cute and cozy space. Buffet was very random, but almost everything I tried was tasty. There was salad, fruit, bacon, french toast, sauteed veggies, spaghetti, meatballs, prime rib, and a variety of breakfast pastries and deserts. I was sad that the donuts were not included in the buffet but they looked quite tasty.
Lance N.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Centreville, VA
Went here for Mother’s Day. And so they had the option of going buffet or ordering a la carte. Which is great as some places force you to a buffet. So for 20 bucks it was well worth it. Usually some restaurant try to add fillers to make you full faster like bread and rice or something. Here, they did not try such shenanigans. They had smoked salmon, sausage and bacon still sizzling on a cast iron pan, and my favorite — fingerling potatoes. They didn’t hustle you to buy drinks or anything, and they were very polite, courteous and knew when to leave us alone and when to accommodate. Great place! But parking can be a bit challenging. Will be back again!
Virginia M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Jacksonville, FL
I enjoyed my dinner here at Bar Civita. I ate outside and watched the world go by. You will need a reservation for seating inside. I had the steak and rabbit pasta. Both were delicious, they also have an option for a full or half portions, which is nice. I would return!
Alex S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Fairfax, VA
Old town feel in the big city, that’s what this place felt to me. Walked thru the traditional door knob based wood door between two large bay window seating areas. Came job before reservations and accommodated very quickly and to our surprise right where we wanted to sit! In one of the bay window seating areas, super cozy and intimate! The waiter we had was nice but kind of like«ehh other just another day at work» attitude, not to say he wasn’t good at what he did! He knew the menu inside and out and without writing anything down got our entire order correct! Was prompt with service, just wish he could’ve been a tad more enthusiastic.(End rant) But the food! Omg the food! The bar steak was cooked to perfection paired beautifully with what I believe to be goat cheese, the gnocchi with lemon froth I mean come on! I’m getting hungry again writing my own review! Other great part… half portions all through the the day not just during lunch. Great if you are looking to try different foods without fearing leftovers or getting too full! I’m definitely going to have to have to make it back here to try more things on their menu!
Olivia C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Rockville, MD
Amazing; perfect portions, different spaces to set the mood, and hidden little gem! Came in on Friday night at 10pm and tucked ourselves in the corner window which allowed for a more intimate experience. There were plenty of people by the bar and plenty of people seated along the long wall. It’s not too fancy but I really liked how there was a good mix of what seemed to be locals and tourists. Let’s talk about the food… some of the best I’ve had in a while! I feel it’s underrated! The menu had a fine selection of fresh veg with grapefruit/cheese/nuts/light dressings, charcuterie like items(chicken liver mousse, meats, cheeses, etc) and a good selection of «macaroni»(aka pastas) and entrees. The best part? They had half portions which were perfect for trying more and sharing! Standout was the gnocchi which was served with a really light cheese and lemon froth. Say whaaaaaaaaa? Light, airy, fresh lemon froth. Unexpected but oh so good. Very well executed. Also shoutout to the half entrée bar steak as it was so perfectly seasoned and paired so well with the more perfectly cut potatoes. Hooray for bar civita, will definitely be back!
Roya B.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Washington, DC
Brunch review: I live in the neighborhood and walked by for Sunday brunch. Open City had a 45 minute wait, but Bar Civita was able to seat us right away. The restaurant has beautiful décor and was larger than it looks from the outside. My group of 3 was seated near the front window, also near a solo guitarist. The ambiance was great and our order was promptly taken. My friends ordered tea and a cappuccino, and we ordered the smoked salmon, steak and eggs, shrimp & grits, and 2 chocolate caramel coconut donuts. The tea came out first but it was served in a cracked pot with really hot water dripping all over. Our waiter was nowhere to be found so we asked the hostess, who burned herself trying to take it away. The waiter brought out another pot of tea later but never apologized. The cappuccino was still nowhere to be found. A little bit later, all of our food was brought out. Everyone enjoyed their food although the salmon and shrimp dishes were a little on the small side. The donuts were well-received as well. They rotate their selection(2 per day). While we were eating the meal, the waiter finally brought out the cappuccino, which was in a small cup that ended up costing a whopping $ 6.50. The waiter was nowhere to be found for a long time– people who had sat down before us left before we received our check.
Alyssa B.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Washington, DC
Bar Civita was good, but somewhat underwhelming. My boyfriend, my friend, and I came here for brunch this morning after being unable to get a table at Open City next door. We were a little skeptical because the restaurant was half empty, but given the good Unilocal reviews, we decided to dive in. The food was good but nothing spectacular. The waitress was sweet and recommended the housemade donuts. We ordered two donuts for the three of us to share(they were girl scout cookie themed today, so we had a «somoa» and a «thin mint»). The donuts were pretty good, but overall I thought they were dense, oily, and overly sweet. I had the American breakfast with scrambled eggs and bacon. It was standard breakfast fare, but I particularly enjoyed the roasted potatoes and the toast(toast doesn’t sound too exciting, but their toast was really good for some reason). There was live music which was a nice touch. Overall, a pleasant experience, but nothing to write home about.
Jamie P.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Washington, DC
The pasta was good but I fear this place won’t last long. We had very slow service(granted it was the end of the night around 10pm) and one of our pasta orders was entirely wrong so by the time we waited for it to get to our spot at the bar I had to ask for it to be «to go» because we were done hanging out!
Mike G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Washington, DC
Awesome place for brunch if you’re in the Woodley Park neighborhood. I had the Irish smoked salmon & poached eggs which was delicious and properly portioned. I also shared some of the house-made donuts, which were some of the best I’ve ever had. The flavors apparently change from time to time so we had no say in what was brought out, but it didn’t matter because they were both delicious!
Katie B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Washington, DC
Great addition to Woodley Park. Slightly hidden on 24th(?) Street, but not even a minute’s walk from Woodley metro. Cozy bistro with Italian influences. Indoor/outdoor seating, so I’m sure this place will be mobbed in better weather. Filled up fairly quickly for a Tuesday night. Nabbed two spots at the bar for HH(M-F 4 – 7 pm). They run different specials on different nights, plus a consistent beer, wine, and small plates menu. Tuesday nights are half price bottles– woo! Great selection of wine by the bottle, weird selection of wine by the glass. For a restaurant with Italian influences, it would have been nice to see a Nebbiolo or a Montepulciano. Fantastic cheeseboard and french fries! Those were the only two dishes we sampled, but I can’t wait to head back for dinner and brunch!
Evan P.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Washington, DC
Small and intimate restaurant/bar with a great staff. We were greeted, provided with great recommendations from Stephanie, our waitress, and had a table in the back of the restaurant which provided us with a view of them prepping dessert. The restaurant offered the option to go with a «full» helping or «half» portion so that you could mix and match. They had a great selection of entrees with chicken, salmon, trout, and steak. Bar Civita also have small dishes such as charcuterie, mussels, Tuscan style chicken liver, and soups. Prices were reasonable and it provided a great atmosphere for catching up with friends in the area(close to the National Zoo and metro so great location). The service was a bit slow and while this may be a minor thing, the bread that we were given while we were ordering was not fresh and warm and did not come with any butter or olive oil. That being said, Bar Civita more than made up for this by providing friendly and welcoming service and good meals all around.
Jose M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Washington, DC
Went there recently for brunch. We started with donuts, had a beet salad, and then did the steak and eggs and the«Pittsburghese» as entrees. The donuts were delicious and made in-house; the chocolate cruller was fantastic. Beet salad was solid. However, the steak the waiter advertised as top five in the city according to the Washingtonian was not THAT good, just solid. I let the chef surprise me with his choice of eggs and I got benedict, which were cooked perfectly. My wife enjoyed the Pittsburghese, which has the restaurant’s own sausage blend. As for drinks, the bloody marys are just okay. They have a very hot, spicy kick to them but I don’t know that I’d pay $ 10 again. The cappuccinos were pretty tasty. Food very good, perhaps even better than the sum of its part, the service friendly, and prices for food(not drinks) very reasonable. we’ll definitely go back.
Kendal Ann M.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Washington, DC
Great burger, slow service. After Open City told us it was an 1.5−2 hour wait, we pulled our resources and went next door to Bar Civita. A party of 8 had no problem sitting down right away, and we even had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather while sitting at their outdoor section. The menu at Bar Civita has a lot of offer, if you are looking for something brunch, lunch type or anything in between they have it. There is a bottomless Bellini option($ 18 dollars, with an entrée). *PROTIP — it is not listed on the menu you need to inquire about it.* They make donuts on the weekends, and they are always different flavors. Be warned they are yeast donuts and HUGE! Our group split a half order(2 donuts) and we were pleasantly surprised. I had the Angus burger with arugula, onions, cheese, a fired egg and garlic sauce. Eating that burger was the best decision I made all day. It was cooked to perfect and all of the elements perfectly complimented one another. Other than the burger, I don’t think I’d be back to Bar Civita anytime soon. The service is incredibly slow. We had to ask for our waters to be filled several times, and to get the check. Additionally, after sitting for another 15 minutes upon receiving the check, I walked it inside for the waitress to run our cards. If you are looking for a burger to blow your mind– take a chance, but be warned on the slow service.
Sin-Yaw W.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Seattle, WA
Sitting at the bar, I eyed the only other table with any patrons. 4 suits talking animatedly with only drinks on the table. This is lunch hour. Hmm… Are they plotting a take-over, a coup, a bill, a case? My clam pasta came with a nice full bodied beer. It was wonderfully flavored, but portion smaller than my appetite. Is this what DC about? Light meals for those snobby suits?
Anthony E.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Washington, DC
Out of the many brunch spots in DC, Bar Cevita stands out! The donuts will make you reconsider the importance of breakfast. The flavor of the donuts are complex, delicious, and perfectly balanced. A generous pouring of bottomless brunch drinks help keeps your appetite going. The entrees shine as well. The burger, and steak are proof that they do beef well. The other dishes as Bar Cevita look bountiful and tasty! If you’re in Woodley Park and need a place to eat, dine at Bar Cevita before anywhere else.
Kelly H.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Gaithersburg, MD
Travelzoo brunch deal included an order of donuts, bottomless bellinis, and entrée each. Donuts: Best donut I’ve ever had – like warm cakes. Got the vanilla/chocolate glaze donut and maple bacon donut. I don’t even like donuts and I loved these and thought they were the best. Bellinis: Strawberry bellinis are the way to go. Not too syrupy. Still so bubbly with simply great flavor. Service: Perfect server. She filled up our bellinis as soon as we were done with them. Never had such attentive service on bottomless drinks as this place. Atmosphere: Lovely patio. Tables are well spaced apart that you can have a conversation without yelling. Umbrellas are super high end, too! And amazing playlist on the speakers. I’ve been to Murphy’s before. It was a great dive bar. But this place deserves its attention for its brunch. It’s classy. It’s reasonable. It’s great food. Food: Perfectly poached eggs. Flavorful burger. Very tender ribeye for the steak and eggs. Crispy hash browns AND fries. Bar Civita is a revolution for woodley park. Knowing what it’s like to have Liberty Tavern chef but within DC city limits.
Tito C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Arlington, VA
Take the head chef from Liberty Tavern, the co-owner of North Side Social, dabble it all in Woodley Park for a new American Bar/Restaurant and you get nothing short of perfection. Had the pleasure of dining here during its soft opening and I was completely blown away. From the ambience to the food this place did not disappoint. The drinks that kept flowing might have elevated my judgement(Make sure to ask for Andrew at the bar. Always.) but I will most definitely be back for a third or fourth or fifth time. Recommend for a chill Friday night dinner before a night out w some friends. Be sure to get their pistachio cheesecake for dessert too!