Annabelle

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.

- Austin Graff -

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.

- Christopher Watts -

Annabelle provided one of thee BEST restaurant experiences I’ve ever had! The feng shui was pure perfection! We were seated in one of their private rooms and it felt like we were in a literal greenhouse. The air was so fresh and the natural light made the atmosphere feel like a movie! The gold accents and pops of color were so pleasing to the eye in the main dining area as well! The staff was attentive and informative. They welcomed us with smiles and insight regarding the menu! They were so polite! I want to give a HUGE shoutout to the restaurant Manager Dina and our waitstaff Arin! The took good care of us! When I say I LOVE them! I mean it. They made us feel like we were the only guest and more over they made us feel like more than just dining guest! Dina and Arin are perfect examples of what 5 Star customer service looks/feels like! The food was nothing short of extraordinary! The oysters were ridiculously fresh and slightly sweet. The mignonette and lemon were a perfect pairing. We also had the Braised Pork Belly and the Roasted Leaks! The pork belly was seasoned so well and the hosin ju was a match I never knew I needed! The leaks we new for me and they were DELICIOUS! They melted in my mouth. I could’ve eaten 10 more LOL!! Our cocktails were also good, it tasted like they were made with fresh ingredients. I could taste how fresh the basil and mint was in my Mojito. My friend got a Mezcal Paloma and you can tell it was a fresh squeezed grapefruit, they smoke flavor wasn’t overpowering. Light but deliberate. Extremely well crafted cocktails! For our entrees we got the Branzino with watercress salad and King Salmon with roasted fennel! The branzio was cooked to perfection! The watercress salad was light but the flavor palette was excellent! The king salmon was tender and moist! Paired with the rusted fennel, grape tomatoes and sauce vierge, I felt like I was on a cloud! Everything was SO good! To finish it off we had the Vanilla Bean Peach Cheesecake and the Lemon Blueberry Poppyseed Cake. The cheesecake was by far the creamiest cheesecake I’ve ever had an I don’t even like cheesecake! It was a great balance. The lemon blueberry poppyseed cake had the right amount citrus and blueberry. They poppyseed brought a great texture! Literally EVERYTHING I ate was amazing! I definitely plan on going back and recommending to everyone I know! Thanks for an amazing experience Annabelle

- Jasmin J -