Annabelle

Tasting Collective had its monthly dinner and it was definitely worth it. This five course meal and accompanying wine pairing was truly nice and the chef was delightful. My only issues are some courses were slightly underseasoned and the fish skin was not crispy. The first course was a Hamachi crudo, which was very tasty, light and refreshing. The next course was Tortelloni. The pasta though fresh was slightly gummy. The sauce was delicious. The 3rd course was a black cod with a pea veloute. The veloute was scrumptious. The fish was slightly underseasoned with a soggy skin. The main course was a wagyu short rib with a bone marrow bread pudding. Everyone really loved the bread pudding. As a pescetarian, I was served a very underseasoned branzino again, with a soggy skin. Dessert for most was Annabelle's strawberry with fromage blanc. It had some type of gelatin so I received mango and passionfruit sorbet. Overall, the dinner was good. The ambience is romantic. I would go back for a date night.

A group of seven of us went tonight for a work dinner. The service (notably Henry) was fantastic. He explained each of the dishes in wonderful detail including textures and flavors. The food what is excellent! Dishes were cooked to perfection and the accompanying sauces were superb. Presentation was spot on. The only thing I could fault them on was a lack of chocolate on the dessert menu. Even then, not enough of a fault to dock them a star.

Annabelle was one of the best dining experiences we've had in 2025. Located in the beautiful neighborhood of Kalorama, Annabelle is inside a brick building that used to house the country's first certified organic restaurant. Walk inside and there's a room with a bar, two dining rooms, and a garden oasis. They also have a dog-friendly patio. From the moment you sit down, the servers warmly welcome you and help keep the flow of the courses natural. The menu is seasonal and organized around four courses and sides. Every dish we ordered was superbly crafted, but the standouts were the Gingered Koginut Squash Soup, Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio, and Braised Lamb Ragu. All three were delicious and dishes we'll crave. The bread to start was warm and tasty. The trio of sorbet for dessert was a great way to end the evening. To drink, my friend enjoyed their negroni and I the Virginia Peach. They have a well curated wine program and the French Sauvignon Blanc was unique and refreeshing.

From the cod (fishy) to the wagu the tempature of the foods were lukewarm/room temperature and in some cases the food was not seasoned. However, the dessert was delicious.

5 stars for service alone. Food was also excellent. I was here for a group dinner, so we had a prixe fixe menu and I didn't get to choose from the larger menu, but the options were great anyway. The ginger squash soup was particularly good. I also had one of the best aviation cocktails I've ever had upon a gin recommendation from our great server. The layout of the restaurant is well thought out and the ambiance fits both a romantic setting or a business dinner and everything in between.