Compass Rose

Great location, cool concept, and very cozy space but smug/​unpleasant wait staff.
Compass Rose is definitely worth a try, there is something for everyone but I doubt I would keep coming back.
Spanish street potatoes and lamb kefta were delicious!
Arepas — the corn dough is on point but the lamb filling was so-​so.
The khachapuri that everyone raves about was just okay. It’s pretty heavy (lots of cheese, butter, and bread) so it’s better to share. Also they should make a note in the menu that it has a raw egg because that was an unpleasant surprise; not everyone is familiar with Georgian food.
Tip: Go during the week to avoid the long weekend wait.

Liked the atmosphere, but the three stars is mainly driven by the food, which wasn’t anything particularly special. Would give a three and a half if I could.
But for the cost, I’d say the food isn’t quite up to par.
I ordered the Khachapuri, which I wouldn’t recommend unless you’re sharing between a couple of people, as its quite heavy & buttery. Also had a couple of other tapa-​style dishes. The Lamp Kefta was quite good.

Our Saturday night started on a good note from the moment we stepped in at Compass Rose!
When my lovely friend dined here previously, she waited for more than an hour before being seated, so we were expecting something similar. However, things were different this time. We were told by probably the nicest host around 14^th street, that there would be a table ready in 5 minutes. We were ecstatic because Compass Rose was our first option.
The restaurant is an interesting concept around 14^th street; every item from the menu consist of street food from different parts of the world, meaning that there is something for almost every palate.
I strongly recommend the Pescaditos fritos, the lamb, and the Ukrainian dish – this dish is both fun to watch and to eat.
The wine menu is small but they have a garnache from Lebanon that was quite nice and inexpensive.
There is also a «Bedouin» (more like a room) tent in the back that can hold like 8 – 10 people. This looks fun for a birthday dinner. It is private, the décor is nice, and you can be as noisy as you want – not a bad choice to enjoy with friends before going somewhere else after dinner. I highly recommended this place!

Liked this place! It’s definitely very cozy, which was nice after the blizzard. Decent happy hour specials, good service. We liked the khachapuri a lot (as does everyone else), though we’re wondering if we can figure out how to make this at home. We also enjoyed the pescaditos and the arepas. The arepas were not like others I’ve had but the taste was great so whatever. Price is reasonable, especially for the neighborhood. We’d definitely come back.

The five star is for the bar seating area, sa’id and the guys behind the bar bring a great energy to the place. And the décor is a killer…
the Georgian pizza «kachapuri» also gets a five star! but only if you ask for fresh basil, some lemon, or lime on The side. ask for extra crispy! (well done)
After the first bite in the crispy crust, and putting some fresh basil on top, I deserve a thank you! You are so kindly welcome.
The drinks here, are not that great…

I have been here twice and each time the experience was fantastic. They don’t take reservations, and if it is busy you might find yourself waiting 45 minutes+ but it is totally worth the wait. I love the street food concept, and their menu allows you to try different cuisines all in the same meal.
Everything is meant to be shared, and highlights on the menu include the Khachapuri, the Bhel Puri Chaat (made with kale, a unique twist), and the Tunisian Chicken Skewers.
They have a really unique cocktail list as well, I tried «The Compass Rose» and it was perfect. I look forward to trying the rest of the drinks on the list. They also seem to have a decent selection of international beers to complement the food. Overall, the ambiance of this place is hard to beat! Can’t wait to go back.

I was pleasantly surprised by my experience at Compass Rose. I was geared up for an overpriced night of [very] small plates and good but expensive drinks. Au contraire, I arrived around 6:30 on a Friday night. It was busy but not yet jammed, and I was able to sit at the bar and save a seat for my friend. The bar stools are actually big, plush chairs, so pretty comfortable to hang out in for a while. There weren’t any tables free at the moment, but we put our names in and about 45 minutes later were seated at a high top. At that point, the bar was packed, so I’d recommend getting there early or later if you have an option.
Otherwise, I would recommend everything we had — calamari, fried brussell sprouts, and korean ribs. Everything was awesome and the portions were large. Definitely don’t believe them when they say 3 per person… we were stuffed after 3 between two people. That being said, I didn’t think the prices were bad, but I suppose we didn’t order a ton. I mean, yes, you won’t be getting a $ 3 beer here, but that’s to be expected.
The servers were really friendly, and were able to accommodate one of my dietary restrictions without a fuss. The atmosphere is also pretty cool — dark space with kind of a funky vibe. Overall, fun Friday night out. I’d go back!

I went to Compass Rose with friends who wanted to try Georgian cuisine because they will be traveling there a few months from now and we were recommended Compass Rose. I had the octopus fritters, my friends ordered other things. They were excellent and served in a timely fashion.
I’m going to be honest — if this were a review solely based on the food, it would be four stars. The food is diverse, tasty, and there’s a good variety of dishes from around the world. Alas, the entire experience was a bit… miserable.
The service was deplorable. We walked in with an open mind and were hoping to check out the happy hour specials at the bar. There were four of us, two went to check the bar, while my friend and I put away our coats and umbrellas. Our friends informed us that the bar was full and we noticed a few open tables, so we asked the hostess if we could sit. She said, «Well, the tables are for full dinner service only» — we planned to get food regardless. I said, «Okay! We’ll sit and order food» to only be told AGAIN by the hostess that, «but it’s full dinner service only.» Super insistent. I was getting the vibe that she either didn’t want us to be seated, we were throwing off her game, or they are just not adaptable with service. Regardless, I told her for the third time that we planned to eat food and she sat us down.
Compass Rose is small, but there’s a front dining room and another down the stairs. We were seated alone downstairs, away from the liveliness and bustle of the rest of the patrons, which was a bit of a bummer. The waiter was alright. We asked if we could pull up a chair for a friend coming and they apparently don’t do that. Someone THEN came out and told us their seating arrangements are «tirelessly calculated» and there are «rules» for them and about the amount of time spent. Rose, I kid you not, asked us to be out of there by 7:30. I understand turnover at restaurants and wanting to accommodate as many people as possible, but (in my experience) unless it’s explicitly said somewhere, you don’t ask people to leave by a certain time. It’s really rude. We felt VERY unwelcome.
They’re just not an adaptable business. For it being «casual» — they had a lot of hidden rules. My friend spoke with the manager herself, Rose, and told her that we felt very unwelcome from the get-​go. Rose explained there are «rules» and that she «wouldn’t recommend to any of her best customers to stay away on weekends» which I found to be strange.
My impression is that if you want good, unpretentious service at Compass Rose, stay for 45 minutes. Don’t go on a weekend. Don’t ask any questions. Not accommodating at all.

First off I will say. as I saw another Unilocaler post. Compass Rose is a little pricey. However, the food is very good. I did have a few dishes that I did not care for but overall Compass Rose has good food and I would definitely tell others about it. My only complaints are that there were 2 dishes that I did not like. Big whoop right. and the restaurant itself is very small inside. It seems to be a very crowded situation. The tables are very close together, and even the bar was super crowded. Don’t breath to hard or you will be breathing on the person (that you don’t know) next to you. But I will give them credit my husband and I got there between 7 and 8 and we were able to be seated right upon walking in. OH, you MUST have all your party there to be seated. No matter if they are parking the car or not. They won’t seat you until everyone in your party is there.
Second I will say. I LOVE tapa style restaurants. I was referred to Compass Rose by one of my husband’s friends because I like tapas so much. He said this would be a good place for us to try and that the food was good. They don’t consider themselves a tapa restaurant. They say «small plates» but mmmm same, same in my book. They do tell you that the dishes are small and meant to share… hmm…That means tapas to me. *shrugs* :p. Anywho lets get to the most important part. the FOOD!
I like «small plates» aka tapas so much because I like being able to try different dishes all in one sitting. I also like different foods & flavors and not eating the same old thing over and over! My husband and I had the following dishes: Fried Brussel Sprouts Grilled Calamari, El Lomito, Chicken Skewers, Khinkali, Tostones, Lamb Kefta.
*The Fried Brussel Sprouts were awesome! My husband was a little hesitate to try them because we had them from another restaurant and they weren’t that good. These were very good and had a good flavor. The ham & feta cheese add so much flavor to this dish. The Brussel Sprouts are definitely a must have.
* The Grilled Calamari with Quinoa was excellent! I was a little hesitate on this dish because I have only had tons of fried calamari which is amazing, so I wasn’t sure how the healthy version of calamari was going to taste. Ha-​ha. I mean anything is better when it’s battered & dipped in hot grease, right? I definitely did not give this dish any credit. It was very good!
* The El Lomito was also very good! It was put together of be most simple ingredients but the flavors came through to make this sandwich a winner. It tasted like the sandwich came from an expensive and fancy sandwich shop. I love the way the pork was cut into thin slices. The avocado and tomato added a nice fresh element to the dish! Very Yummy!
* The Chicken Skewers were mahhh. OK! Nothing special. They were also very fatty. Not much more to say than that. The dipping sauce was also ok!
* The Khinkali was our least favorite item we tried. We did not like it at all. It was a lamb and pork dumpling. I thought maybe it would be like a potsticker but I’m not sure what happened. The dough was very soggy and wet like. It was chewy and. Yuck ! I just didn’t like it.
* The Tostones aka fried plantains were very good. My husband loves plantains so when he saw this on the menu, it was an automatic must have. They were actually good and the sauce that came with it added just that punch to make it all come together. It was a mojo sauce. It’s light and fresh. Very good!
* Lastly, The Lamb Kefta was another dish we did not care for. We weren’t sure what to expect but we just did not like the combination of flavors that this dish had. I’m sure it was made right, but I think it was more of a personal preference. We have also never had Lebanese food.
Sorry for the SUPER long review, but there was so many dishes to tell about. Overall, Compass Rose was very good and I would recommend this restaurant to others. Now go try it ! :)

Verdict, A-​OK (3 stars) even though I want to give 3.5 stars.
Had the Khachapuri and Lamb Kefta. They’re good. Love the texture and richness of the Khachapuri but I can’t say I agree with the cost. Not at all. Especially for the portion for the Lamb Kefta.
Service was good. Nothing great or bad.
The ambience was great. Perfect for a date night or hanging out with friends. Dimmed lights with upbeat funk music. Had they turned down a just a tad bit so patrons can converse would be ideal.
Venue was a bit cramped but that’s DC for you. I would come back if the majority of my friends wanted to but it would eat beforehand.

Went to Compass Rose last night for the first time for a ladies night and I must say, I really liked it! The space itself is so cute and cozy, we sat in a table by the front of the restaurant. Our waiter, Colin, was great; very friendly and recommended stuff, but also gave us enough time to browse and chat. We started, DUH, with the Khachapuri, which was DELISH! It actually sort of tasted like pizza to me lol, but the filling was much better than pizza. The cheese/​egg/​butter combo is to die for. I could’ve shared a second, but alas, the ladies I was with wanted to try other stuff (wahhh). Oh, I also really liked that the runner stirs/​mixes it himself, as a first-​time diner here, it was nice to not have to wonder how much stirring was necessary.
As we devoured that we browsed the drink menu, I settled on the afterschool special (I think that was the name), a vodka drink with apple cider, so tasty! Later on I had a glass of white Georgian wine which I really really liked! Both drinks were on point.
The other dishes we ordered:
— calamari — grilled, really tasty
— asado — the sausages were sooo good, the meat was great too
— lamb kofta — very tasty, the couscous it comes with is great
— arepas — tasty but as a Venezuelan, I prefer arepas generously stuffed, not how they were here, they were taco style, i.e. very thin corn patties with the toppings on the top
— Brussels sprouts — very very good! perfect addition to the other heavier items
Adorably cute spot, really liked the food and the vibe, will definitely come back!

My boyfriend and I dined at Compass Rose on a recent Tuesday night. We were very intrigued by the fact the menu reflects the travels of the owners and had dishes from around the world. We didn’t have reservations but when I arrived a little before 6 pm, I was told there wouldn’t be a wait and that we could be seated once the boyfriend arrived. While I waited, I had a Compass Rose cocktail at the bar — the drink was just OK in my book. It was a tad on the sweet side for my taste.
We were seated in the back section which was pretty dark. Luckily we had scoped the menu out online earlier so we had a pretty good idea of what we were going to order. If we hadn’t, it would have been really hard to read the menu. The ladies next to us had to use the light from their phone to read the menu. Additionally it was very loud in the back — we could barely hear our waitress and it wasn’t because she was talking softly. Then randomly around 8 pm or so the music got very very loud. It became almost impossible to carry on a conversation of any sort.
Food wise, our favorite dish was the famous khachapuri, which is bread with cheese and egg. They put the egg on top of the hot bread at your table and mix it in for you. We absolutely loved this dish and wish it hadn’t been the last thing we got — we were a bit full by that time, but still managed to eat most of the bread (I took some home and ate it the next day). We definitely plan to go back, sit at the bar, and just order the bread. The other dishes we got were fine, but none as memorable as the bread. The shrimp skewers were pretty bland which disappointed me. Also for a small plates place, the portions were a good size. Too big for just the two of us, but if we had been with another couple they would have been the perfect size.
Overall I am glad we tried Compass Rose, but if we hadn’t been blown away by the khachapuri, I’m not sure I would run back.

Compass Rose was on my DC bucket list (moving in two weeks), so, when I realized I wouldn’t be able to leave work early enough to get a table at Rose’s Luxury I took a look at my list and suggested to my friends this street food restaurant.
Arancini: These risotto balls were a little drier than I am used to. Maybe even a little bland. However, the pistachio pesto they were served with was different and extremely unique and gave the dish a level of complexity that made me excited to start my meal.
Cauliflower: These were supposed to come with raisins and hazelnuts… but I think only came with raisins with no hazelnuts in sight. The sauce was a little more sour than what I think is palatable but the cauliflower was seared well.
Argentinian steak: The steak itself was delicious but the portion size was TINY– like maybe max two ounces of meat. For $ 20 that felt like a rip off. It came with spicy sausage and a farro miso rice that was suggested by our waiter that were both a little too spicy to accompany the steak. Seemed like an odd couple.
Kachapuri: If this was the only dish I had tonight the review would definitely be bumped a star. There is a reason this is the most ordered dish. You cannot go wrong with egg, cheese, butter and bread!
For dessert we had a crème brûlée which was as good as any crème brûlée is (cream, eggs, sugar… cant be hard to mess that up), but i did notice the top was burnt a little much and the sugar shell was a little too think. It didn’t «crack» when you tapped the spoon on it, you had to get a little forceful, haha.
I also had the compass rose to drink, and it was a little TOO bubbly/​sweet for my taste. It almost kind of gave me a head ache. I wish I had ordered it after my meal. I could also see it being a good brunch drink.
Along with this, the lighting was super weird and it was so dark in the restaurant it was hard to appreciate the plating/​colors of our food and read the menus. Service was very nice, and the pricing is good. I think I would come back and probably order the kachapuri and try out some other dishes since I found the others lacking.

I have to say that there’s a lot of really cool things going on here at Compass Rose, and it’s totally up my alley :-)
So to preface, I have a food blog that focuses on cooking dishes from around the world, so I guess you could say I’m a little predisposed to wanting to try random, weird dishes that I’ve never heard of before. In that case, the menu offered by Compass Rose is perfect for just that type of experience.
We came into the place and sat by the bar looking to have a quick drink and maybe a small snack before another gathering. Upon sitting, we were presented with a really intriguing wine menu that offered a special set of Georgian wines aged in clay pots that yields a not red, not white but orange-​y type of semidry and tart wine. Not only did we really like the novelty of the offering, but the wine itself was absolutely delicious and a real treat.
It’s helpful to note at this point here that the bartenders behind the bar were not only really funny, personable and engaging, but damn did they know their stuff. We sure tried our hand at trying to ask the tough question, but it didn’t really work.
We also had some Spanish fried guppies/​baby fish to go with our drinks, and they were just as I remember them from when I lived in Madrid and would have them alongside an ice cold beer at one of the neighborhood bars after work. Delicious and delightful all around.
The only reason I’m here giving a 4 star review is partly because it was kind of a dark and odd layout to the place, and the bathroom that I saw was pretty gnarly. It’s nit-​picky I know, but it does make a difference.
Other than that, though, an all around 5 star experience and a place definitely worth visiting over and over.

Having been to Compass Rose 3 or 4 times, I’m shocked to find I hadn’t reviewed it yet! Here goes:
The Space: adorable converted row house with 3 distinct spaces. There are the outside tables, which are nice but lack the charm of the interior; the bar/​main dining area, which is a little cramped but cute, and, my favorite spot, the downstairs in the back, which is decorated adorably and feels like you are miles away from 14^th street. Overall great vibe across the whole restaurant.
The Food: You will leave compass rose satisfied with the flavors and quality, but perhaps with a bit of sticker shock. As mentioned by others, the portions are small, so if you are hungry you’re gonna pay for it. My favorite way to come to Compass Rose is with a medium-​empty belly and share a few small things. Though the menu is all over the place geographically, i actually find that the flavors meld well together and the timing of the service works for the food. You obviously have to get the Khachapuri, though at $ 14 for some bread, cheese, egg and butter, you have to wonder the value… I also LOVE the tiny fried fish to munch on, and we really enjoyed the grilled calamari, the execution was really impressive.
The Service: hit or miss, in my opinion. There is a bit of a weird/​hipster vibe coming from the front of house and the bar, but all the servers I’ve had there were super nice, if not a bit overwhelmed each time I’ve been there. But not a huge deal.
Compass Rose is a refreshing alternative to some of the corporate-​feeling restos on 14^th street, and Im happy to see it packed most of the time I walk by!

Perfect for an intimate night out — to catch up with a few friends, or to get some dimly lit time with your main squeeze.
The concept is very cute. The owners traveled the world for 3 years and have pulled together a menu featuring upscale versions of their favorite finds. They also have a nicely designed cocktail menu (get the $ 700 Million!). The food very appetizing but it is generally heavy. You can’t be that healthy here, and that’s okay, but it would be nice if less oil was slathered on every the dishes.
My final note is that Compass Rose is a fairly expensive experience. It is a nice alternative to the larger set ups on 14^th and I appreciate the décor and the intimate ambiance. I’m just not sure it’s good enough to compete with the other options in the area with comparable pricing, for me at least.

I’ve been to Compass Rose now twice. I can’t seem to really get into it. What I can say is the space is nice and I like the intimate atmosphere and the interesting music choose of the place. The music varies depending on the night, but it doesn’t really seem to suit the theme of the place. Then again, I don’t really grasp the theme either.
Maybe the theme is – they have dishes represented from different countries and the compass signifies the different parts of the world?
My understanding is that their take on Khachapuri is one of the best. I will be the first to acknowledge that I wouldn’t know the difference between good khachapuri and bad khachapuri; however, I will say I don’t think it’s all what it’s cracked up to be. It is leavened bread with egg and cheese and a traditional Georgian dish. Cool! To me, it’s cheese and bread with egg. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t super amazing worth the price paid for it either.
My dining partner and I got the following:
* Plantains — not exciting
* Langkawi Shrimp Skewers — semi exciting
* Berkshire Pork Kogi Ribs — mediocre to so-​so exciting
* Spanish Street Potatoes — very unexciting
Overall, a meh experience as a whole. I think I have other places to venture to on 14^th Street than here.

After always passing Compass Rose, my friend and I finally came to try it out as they debuted their SUMMER COCKTAILS this past Friday! At 7 pm on a Friday night, our party of 2 was seated immediately and had a pleasant experience. The food, drinks, service, and ambiance here is great, don’t get me wrong, but the food is not that amazing that I would eat here all the time.
FOOD
Yuquitas Fritas — Personal favorite. Our waiter told us that they are rubbed in flour, therefore this is why it has such a nice soft and doughy taste to it. Paired with this Huancaina sauce (sorry if I butcher this); this was a perfect combo of flavors.
Pescaditos Fritos — This reminded me of the fried fish you can get from a market. The main thing that makes this dish great is the aoli sauce. The aoli sauce is a great palate cleanser and complimented the Fritos. For 7 dollars, this is a great appetizer, but would not suggest getting this if you wanted a really fishy dish.
Takayaki (Octopus Balls) — I never knew that Compass Rose served Takoyaki! After trying other DC places that serve Takayaki, this is the best I have tried. The gooeyness is so perfect and it has subtle Octopus taste and bites. The dried bonito was also stuck to the skin and it just perfectly melted in your mouth!
Asparagus — Always have to get a vegetable when I eat somewhere and this was a great choice! The Asparagus wasn’t overcooked and was very tasty with a green duck heart sauce.
Last but not least, the Khachapuri — I just simply love the concept of the waiter mixing an egg, cheese, and loads of spices on top of a bread. It was quite beautiful to witness! This wasn’t my favorite dish, but it was extremely tasty!!! This is not the best thing at Compass Rose — even though it might be the most talked about! If you want to get drunk from your cocktails, I suggest not eating all of this because it is so buttery and carby!
SUMMER COCKTAILS (After trying 4 of them, here is the VERDICT)
Compass Rose — Not a summer cocktail, but had to try their signature drink! Must be great for this to share the same name as the restaurant. The mixture of rose water, sparkling wine, and rose water is very refreshing, but personally, was too sparkling for my taste. You can’t really taste any alcohol, but it does pair well with the food.
This is for the G’s — All I tasted was Mezcal. If you want to get drunk, get this. The combination wasn’t the best personally, but I do love Mezcal.
Sally from the Valley — Infused with Rhubarb purée, this was one of my favorites. It wasn’t too strong or heavy and really helped me eat that heavy Khachapuri.
Tahitian Honeymoon — Served in a tiki cup, this drink definitely made me feel like I was going to Tahiti. This is a great concept with nice tropical flavors, but the hard alcohol they use was just ruining it for me. It tasted too much like coconut and wish it was balanced better!
Franky My Dear — Oh dear, the bourbon flavor in this is quite kicking. Franky my dear, you are a sleeper drink. This one got me going for the rest of the meal! HIGHLY SUGGEST ;)
SERVICE and VENUE
Our waiter along with the server pouring water (Daniel) were super nice and accommodating. They always checked on us and cleaned out our tables. The restaurant itself is so intimate that the tables are really close together. Didn’t mind that at all, but our waiters butt was always in our face as he took the orders of other tables – Made the experience more worth while I guess though! Also, I was really impressed that their staff was very knowledgable of the new summer drinks and made the perfect suggestions!
Overall, my experience at Compass Rose was really great and would highly recommend trying some of their summer drinks along with their snacks. For the price, I wouldn’t splurge that much again, but it was worth the experience! Great start to this humid summer!

Love the around-​the-​world street food concept here, and the adorable vintage venue! BUT the food here looks better than it tastes. All the dishes come in tapa-​style portions (so not big), and our waitress suggested 3 plates per person. Our party of 5 got 7 plates and left FULL. We all shared everything.
The Mixed Grill (steak and quail) was great! The meat was savory and juicy.
The Khachapuri (cheesy bread) would be better if the bread was glazed with honey.
The Pescaditos Fritos (fried baby fish) came with a nice dipping sauce.
The Bhel Puri Chaat (Indian rice salad w/​lettuce cups) comes with four lettuce cups.
The Pupusas were not very flavorful.
Service was great and the vintage setting made us want to stay and chat forever!

This is one of my favorite new restaurants! What a great find. My brother and future sis took me here for my birthday dinner last summer. We were consistently delighted by every unique dish that graced our table.
The restaurant is owned by the wife of an international news correspondent. Story has it that she gleaned food inspiration from the different countries that she lived in and focused on street food.
The star here is their Georgian egg + cheese bread, Khachapuri. It arrives bubbling at your table, while the server adds an extra (!!) slab of butter while it’s still hot. You should ask to refrain from that extra butter, as it’s already very rich and tasty.
We sat outside at their wooden deck area which is very narrow, but well-​lit and nice if you want some more peace and quiet. The servers are very attentive even though it can get very hectic inside the restaurant.
We also tried their mushroom dish (flavorful, high quality), Korean pork ribs, fried whole baby fish (Spanish influence), pork roast and Argentinian quail and Sicilian salad. It’s as if we jet-​setted to different countries without leaving our table. This is awesome for someone with an ADD palate (*raises hand*) and desires to sample multiple dishes at once. We were never once bored and all the flavors packed a punch. Yum!