The food is great, don’t get me wrong, but your little valet service is out of control, and dangerous. Your Ethiopian, or Somalian valet person was seen doing an illegal U-turn for no reason, right from the parked position, into oncoming traffic, then rolling his windows down with his arm out of the window like it’s his vehicle. He’s honking at people, and yelling at them, then he has the audacity to come into the Starbucks like it’s nothing, and he does this all the time. I don’t know how they do it in other countries, but this is AMERICA. We have rules.
NR
Nisha Rajendran
Mar 11, 2026
I’ve always considered Mastro's Steakhouse one of my favorite restaurants in the U.S. Over the years I’ve visited several locations, especially in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Los Angeles, and every experience there has been excellent. Because of those experiences, I didn’t pay much attention to the mixed reviews for the Mastro's Steakhouse location.
My husband and I were visiting Washington, DC to celebrate our first anniversary, and we made sure to reserve Mastro’s as soon as we booked our flights. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a special celebration turned into a complete disaster.
For our appetizer, my husband ordered the bone marrow. We had ordered the exact same dish just two weeks earlier in Miami and loved it. This time, however, it arrived extremely slimy and had an unpleasant taste. After one bite we immediately told our server. He said he would remove it from our bill, and we showed him the dish — which clearly hadn’t been eaten beyond the first bite.
We decided to give the restaurant another chance and ordered the A5 Japanese Wagyu (8 oz), requesting it medium rare. What arrived was completely rare and freezing cold in the center. When we brought this up, the server actually tried to explain that this was how medium rare is supposed to be served. In all the years I’ve been eating steak at high-end restaurants — including other Mastro’s locations — I have never had a steak served like that and been told it was correct.
Despite the disappointing food, we still paid our $400 bill with a 17% gratuity and left.
Unfortunately, things got even worse. The next day, both my husband and I suffered severe food poisoning. We were vomiting and sick throughout the day and had to push our return flight back because we were in no condition to travel. Instead of enjoying our anniversary trip, we spent most of the time in the restroom trying to recover.
This experience completely ruined what should have been a special milestone for us. I never expected such poor quality and service from a restaurant with the reputation that Mastro’s has built over the years.
After this experience, I honestly don’t think I will ever return to Mastro’s again. The General Manager should seriously look into what is happening at this location, because this level of food quality and food safety is unacceptable.
Our first anniversary celebration ended with both of us sick and still recovering — an incredibly bitter memory from a restaurant we once loved.
A complete shame.
VB
Violet Bannister
Mar 10, 2026
A month later and I’m still reminiscing about my experience at Mastros last month. If you didn’t visit Mastros DC for Valentines Day dinner, then you missed out.
I enjoyed Herb Roasted Branzino with a side of Garlic Truffle Cauliflower. I asked for a mocktail with mint, and Eli executed it perfectly.
The only problem with the menu is that there are too many delicious options, and one can only eat so much. Everything worked out perfectly for my Valentine’s Day dinner though because I left with a to-go bag of chocolate cheesecake and a separate order of chocolate covered strawberries. Both were delicious even after a couple of days in my fridge because they were already so freshly made.
The chocolate cheesecake is out of this world. What makes this cheesecake extra special is the Oreo cookie crumb crust and premium cocoa, espresso, dark chocolate ganache. It also came with plump raspberries.
I came to Mastros for a stress-free experience and delicious meal; my expectations were exceeded. Customer service is 5 stars, the food and drinks are 5 stars, and the live music and ambiance are icing on the cake.
I am writing to formally express my disappointment regarding our recent dining experience at Mastro’s Steakhouse, which was intended to be a special evening celebrating my engagement.
Prior to making our reservation, I conducted extensive research on high-end restaurants in Washington, DC, and selected Mastro’s based on its reputation for upscale dining and refined ambiance. Before attending, I also contacted the restaurant directly to clarify several important details. I was explicitly told that a typical dinner for two would be approximately $160 per person all-in, that the dress code was strictly enforced as formal to semi-formal (with no ripped jeans, track suits, jerseys, or athletic wear permitted), and that gratuity was not automatically added to checks.
Despite these assurances, our actual experience fell far below what was represented.
Upon arrival, the atmosphere was entirely inconsistent with the dress code that was repeatedly emphasized to us. Many guests were dressed in ripped denim, track suits, sneakers, and nightclub-style attire, while others were dressed in ways more appropriate for a nightclub than a fine dining establishment. This environment completely undermined the upscale ambiance we were promised and expected for such a meaningful occasion.
Additionally, although we were instructed that our 8:30 PM reservation required punctuality with only a 15-minute grace period, we were kept waiting for nearly 30 minutes upon arrival. This inconsistency further contributed to the feeling of disorganization and diminished service standards.
Most concerning was the handling of gratuity. Contrary to what was explicitly stated prior to our visit, a 20% gratuity—approximately $80—was added to our $526 bill. This was presented in a manner that strongly implied it was mandatory, and at no point did our server explain that this charge was optional. Given that the service itself was underwhelming and did not meet fine-dining expectations, this felt misleading and inappropriate.
Unfortunately, the food quality and overall experience did not justify the price point. The experience felt closer to a casual chain restaurant rather than a premier steakhouse, and I have genuinely had better steaks at much more modest establishments. This was especially disappointing given the effort I put into selecting what I believed would be a top-tier dining experience for my fiancée.
I was also told that Mastro’s did not offer a Valentine’s Day menu, despite several other upscale DC restaurants—such as Nobu—doing so. This further contributed to the sense that the experience did not align with what is expected of a restaurant positioned at Mastro’s level.
I am sharing this feedback not to be confrontational, but because this experience fell significantly short of what was advertised and what your brand represents. I would appreciate a review of our visit, particularly regarding the added gratuity and the misrepresentation of dress code enforcement, pricing expectations, and overall standards.
I look forward to your response and hope this matter can be addressed appropriately.
TW
Taliyah Wood
Feb 24, 2026
I had the most AMAZING experience at Matro's! From the moment we walked in, everything was just chef’s kiss. The food? Absolutely incredible. Every bite had me falling more in love perfectly seasoned, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. I’m not even exaggerating when I say I was obsessed!
And let’s talk about the drinks 100% worth the price. They were crafted so well and complemented the food perfectly. You can tell they care about quality.
What truly made the night unforgettable though was the service. The manager, Ngong Temateh, went above and beyond. He consistently checked on us, made sure everything tasted great, and genuinely cared that we were enjoying ourselves. That kind of attention makes all the difference.
Our server, Juan, was equally amazing! So communicative, attentive, and detailed. He made sure everything was prepared exactly how we wanted and that our drinks were just right. We truly felt taken care of the entire time.
Overall, I loved everything about this place the atmosphere, the food, the drinks, and especially the people. I will DEFINITELY be coming back. 10/10 experience! 💛