Maple

This review is months overdue, but it’s stuck in my head as a great experience so I figure I owe the staff a review. I came here in October for a birthday dinner with my friend and his parents – It’s was a bit pricier than my normal dining out, but well worth it for a special occasion. The fare earned «almost as good as grandma’s» from my friend’s old-​school Italian mother, which is a compliment that speaks for itself. The service was very accommodating and responsive; our server, Lauren (90% sure that’s her name?), deserves extra credit there. The wine was good, even if sold at an expectedly inflated restaurant price, and the affogato was an excellent finale to a thoroughly enjoyable celebration. We had a party of 7 and were pleased with the chic and comfortable arrangement they set up for our reservation on the 2^nd floor.

Popped in for a light brunch today, post snow storm. Friendly staff, owners, and other patrons. Only sampled a few apps — but they were delicious. Coffee was amazing. Menu selection for brunch was solid, looking forward to trying more things. Great atmosphere — can’t wait to go back for dinner!

We made reservations after reading the positive reviews and seeing the menu had more than one veg-​friendly option. (I did not confirm if what I ate was indeed totally vegetarian or not, though.)
On a Friday night the small restaurant was packed. We were unfortunately seated directly by the door in the front windows. The front window seating is crammed and quite chilly.
Service overall was rushed and spotty. Our waitress rattled off the specials but didn’t know the price of the wine. We ordered the «cheeses» from the appetizer section and it arrived before our first cocktails. A second server plopped down a plate with three pieces of toast, three cheeses, and oil-​drenched olives; no words about the cheeses. Our waitress mumbled the third was a «firm cow cheese» and went about her business.
Service continued to be rough when an incorrect order was brought out and she asked if we’d like it or like what we ordered. Please serve us what we ordered.
The entrees, mushroom tagliatelle and the lamb ragu, were fine. The noodles could’ve been sitting for a while before being covered in mushrooms and lamb ragu. Flavor was strong but the entrees were both heavy, again I think the noodles were off.
We agreed that after Maple, Lupo Verde on 14^th is looking a lot better.

Dependable, dependable, dependable.
The menu never changes (well…not, at least, since I’ve been going there). The pastas are always delicious. The portions are always generous. The bartender is always competent. The service is always a bit odd, and the hostess will never ever seat you unless your companion is in the restaurant… even when they’re empty. So don’t ask. Just go sit at the bar.

We stopped in here for brunch because KBC was closed and Maple was right next door. Thank goodness we did!
I had the poached eggs with spinach and added smoked salmon because why not, and he had the pork belly and polenta. Both were delicious and cooked perfectly.
I think they were training a new waitress because we had two people serving us, and the trainer had to remind the trainee to ask us about specials and water and such. But otherwise service was fine.

We came to Maple for brunch on a Sunday recently, and well, it was alright. We waited about 10ish minutes to get sat even though there were a few open tables, but the hostess seemed a bit distracted and just not ready. Once we sat down we ordered a coke (him) and a coffee (me). The coffee was great but good luck getting a refill! I had to ask our disappearing waitress a couple of times to bring me a refill and when she finally did she didn’t bring more cream (sadly, I need it for my coffee) and ran away so quickly, so I got up and asked the bar for some. We also ordered the mascarpone with baguettes, which was sooo good!
For our entrees, I had the pork belly polenta and kale, which was very tasty, and he had the eggs in purgatory, which our waitress said despite saying spicy on the menu, they’re not. She was right. My hubby liked the dish but the portion could’ve been a little more generous. Very cute restaurant but we found the service to just be very under par. They seemed a bit under staffed and likely the reason we barely saw our waitress. We asked the runners for more water when they brought us stuff. One last note, when we sat down the table to our left was leaving and no one came to clean up their dishes, or take their check the entire time we were there. Same with the table to our right once they left, about halfway through our meal. That was weird and not too nice to be eating next to two very messy tables with leftover food.

Holy molyyyyy! This place is a dime.
I came here with a couple of friends on a Friday night around 9:30pm. There was no wait to get seated. Similar to other 11^th street places there’s no hostess/​host when you first walk in, which I’m now getting use too and this doesn’t affect the stars.
The waitress was great — super knowledgeable on everything on the menu.
The food was spectacular. It made me rethink all my previously rated 5-​stars. We got the bruschetta with eggplant and mussels as appetizers. I loved both of them, but the mussels were exceptional!
For my entrée I got the mushroom tagliatelle. It was perfectly al dente. It was so good that I would not be inclined to try something new the next time I go to Maple. This is a perfect place to take fiends, family, and guests.
I cannot wait to go back!

I’m so happy that I came across Maple during my trip to DC last month! They’re a solid little wine bar just outside of the center of the city that offers a great experience. The food was great, and the menu offered a modern twist on traditional Italian fare. I wasn’t looking for an extremely filling meal, so I ordered a four-​cheese panini, which tasted great, despite being a little heavy. Half of it, along with a side salad and a bowl of the polenta to share, was plenty of food.
They offer an open bar area and plenty of other seating. The ambience is a little dark without being unreasonable, and very trendy. This was a great lowkey date spot, but it seemed capable of hosting small groups of friends or other parties as well. Our waitress was friendly without being overbearing, and she was quick to recommend the mussels appetizer to us (to her credit, it was the best part of the meal). I’m looking forward to eventually returning to Maple and trying more of the menu!

After reading all the other overly positive reviews of this place, I have to admit I am quite surprised. I went for brunch on a Sunday morning and the overall experience was less than stellar.
I had the «eggs in purgatory,» which failed to offer much in the way of complex or even refined flavor. The sauce had a poor consistency, lacked spice and was rather bland. The bread that accompanied it was cold and overly buttered (maybe oiled?). The eggs ran into the sauce in a way that left me craving a sauce that could stand up to the richness of the yolk. That would not be this sauce.
Normally I don’t put cream in my coffee, but this cup compelled it. It left me wanting a good cup o’ joe from Maple’s better neighbor, the Coupe.
As many of the other positive reviews are of the dinner menu, I may venture back to give it a try.

I find it tough to find full-​on delicious fare in DC but Maple delivers. The lamb ragu was flavourful and hearty. The grilled octopus appetizer was also very good. The décor is great, cozy and comfy with a back (and front!) terrace. I would come again and again.

Hands down one of the most solid, down-​to-​earth eateries in town. I live in Columbia Heights and am so glad to have Maple as my go-​to place.
The menu has more or less stays the same (but tonight, there was grilled octopus! So fresh and yum.) but they bring out consistent, flavorful, creative dishes every time. The staff is always friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable.
I almost exclusively order the sausage and broccoli rabe tagliatelle every time I go. You’ve gotta try it. I promise you won’t have any regrets. For brunch, the eggs in purgatory is always a hit.
If they shifted around their menu more often and added new dishes once in a while, I would give Maple a 5 star unreservedly.
Lastly, since their recent expansion, they now offer a gorgeous back patio (in addition to the sidewalk seating). The overall ambiance is warm but energetic — easy to feel that way when you’re surrounded by a ton of awesome artwork!
Great date spot but also great spot for a group of friends or an adventurous family. Too good to be true? Just go check it out.

By far one of my favorite restaurants in DC! Came here for apps and wine, brunch, and dinner twice now and have enjoyed everything each time!
Solid wine selection — I really enjoyed the Super Tuscan. I also enjoyed their mixed drinks and grappa.
The food is really well done contemporary italian. Eggplant caponata is a must. I also like the burrata. Entrees across the board are all great. Definitely try the gnocchi (we got an order for the table to share and it was gone in no time!) Lamb tagliatelle was also one of my favorites.

The pesto gnocchi, sausage with broccoli rabe, and lamb tagliatelle were all phenom.
This was my second visit, and since we were with the boyfriend’s parents we didn’t imbibe, but the time before with girlfriends I did. The waiter was out of this world helpful in talking us through ordering and tasting wines and really explaining the flavors and what to look for. He made fun of my fondness for pinot grigio but in a fun way, and opened me up to some new white varieties. (I still stand by my pinot grigio, though). If you can, go when it’s snowing because it’s the most intimate and lovely place to be in the snow. It’s also wonderful in the summer, though :).
This time, however, our waiter wasn’t super nice when a member of my party asking if it was possible to change some ingredients. And, on some level, I get that. With all the gluten free this, allergic to something that people out there it has to get old as a server and you have to wonder how much of it is legit. That said, my bf is actually allergic to dairy (not just lactose intolerant) and it’s a really big deal if he has dairy. So, when he asks to change something in a pasta dish I get your annoyance, I truly do, because I live with it everyday and basically can’t have cheese and it’s terrible. But, it’s also kind of your job as a server to mask your annoyance and just do whatever ridiculous thing your client asks.
So, docking one star for snooty patooty but otherwise giving this place an A++ for service, food, and atmosphere.

Came here for brunch with a few people, and it was just okay. The place itself was very cute, our server was nice, but I must say I was slightly underwhelmed with the food.
My boyfriend got the poached eggs with spinach, and it was yummy. The eggs were cooked perfectly, it was seasoned well, but the portion just seemed a bit small. I didn’t care for my eggs in purgatory, which is very disappointing, since I was looking forward to it! It was just plain tomato sauce, no real spice or seasoning, the sausage was scarce, I wouldn’t recommend it. A friend got the pork belly and polenta, and it looked yummy, the bite i had was yummy, but it was nothing to rave about.
I would give it another try, but I’m not sure if I’d go back for brunch. Maybe dinner? I guess we’ll just have to see

Wine, cocktails, food, and an intimate setting– it feels like a neighborhood gem.
I went after the dinner rush and before the frat boys wake up from their darthy drinking for round 2 so caught it at what seemed like the witchin’ hour and it was great! Got to actually hear conversation over great music; can I get your spotify playlist?
Snuck in an order of some bruschetta which you can mix and match and LORD, the anchovy/​white bean bruschetta was mind blowing– delicate and perfectly balanced with a nice contrasting texture. Anchovy may not suit everyone’s palate but with the right combination, it can be really tasty! Also had a side of greens and the rapini was just the right of spice with a nice touch of sharpness from cheese.
The cocktails aren’t bad and have friendly bartenders. I’m a usual whisky/​bourbon drinker but after a couple of recommendations, gravitated and settled on the gin based «bijou». Delish. Go with what you want to drink but I liked that everyone was just drinking what they wanted even though it seemed like the menu was wine heavy.
Can’t wait to go back to try dinner!

I think we went on the most beautiful evening yet this summer so our experience may be biased :)
We sat outside with everyone else because it was so pleasant out. They have a couple four-​top and two-​top tables set up. Inside it was mostly bar stool style. They have some cute tables along the window (which was open) that would make a nice date spot. They were denied to us because they are reservation only (nobody showed up to two of them the entire time we were there).
We shared the meat & cheese plate for an appetizer and it was surprisingly good. I hold a high candle to these plates after living in France (yep I sound like a snob I’m aware) but they have done well. Even the bread was good ;)
I had the cheese panini with a salad and my friend had a pasta plate. My friend cleaned his plate and I took my sandwich with me for snacking later. It was still amazing later. But you can put pesto on anything and I’ll be happy!
Prices are reasonable. We both drank water and the bill came out to 50. Our server was very sweet by the way :)

Had a great dinner date at Maple! They have a cute sidewalk patio and interior seating at small tables, very cozy.
We ordered the bruschetta (4 for $ 11) and the charcuterie plate to start off with. The bruschetta was good – we tried all except the anchovy one – but not really exceptional, our favorite of the four was the asparagus/​parmesean/​truffile oil one.
The charcuterie was great! The meat cuts were excellent and the cheese selection on point. I would definitely get the charcuterie again, alongside two glasses of wine for a perfect night!
We split the lamb ragu entrée – the portion was huge and the lamb was really soft and tender. I found this dish to be on the slightly salty side.
Highlight of the meal: 499 moscato d’asti! $ 11 for a glass but so, so good! I may or may not have a case on its way to me after dining at Maple…

Maple is the kind of «neighborhood» restaurant that makes you sad you don’t live in their neighborhood!
This is exactly what I said about «The Red Hen,» in Bloomingdale, but I find they are very similar. The Red Hen gets the edge on atmosphere, where Maple feels a little more like a bar, the other, a «homey» restaurant.
The menus aren’t exactly the same, but the execution of each is similar, as in very good.
We went to Maple for a wine tasting, which was tremendous fun, where we met a lot of nice people and tasted some great wines… we ended up staying for dinner and hanging out with another couple from the tasting and the owners. It was a blast of an evening and I highly recommend the wine tastings.
The food was simply delicious. I asked the owner if he had to recommend one dish, for a first timer, what would he suggest? He said the Lamb Ragu, which gets many accolades on Unilocal as well… and it rightly should. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the ragu itself was packed with flavor without being too heavy. We also had several bruschetta. They were all good, but the eggplant caponata was by far the winner!
So here’s where I land on Maple. I would not make a special trip to DC to eat there, but I highly recommend it if you live close by, or are going to be in the city anyway.

I’ve been to Maple a couple times now.
The really good:
1. The bruschetta (all of them)
2. The steak panini
3. The gelato
The good:
1. The lamb ragu. Not quite rave worthy, but a solid pasta dish.
2. The chocolate cake
The OK:
The service. Actually it was quite good the first time, but not as good the 2^nd time. This might be due to the large group the 2^nd time I came here (9 of us).
Speaking of groups, if you have a group of around 10, Maple has a perfect spot for you upstairs. It was a nice unexpected surprise.
The disappointing:
The hanger steak. Probably would be better if they had a sauce that went along with it. Quite generic and dull otherwise.
Overall, Maple is a pretty good neighborhood spot. Reasonably priced, nice ambiance, quality food.

Nice little spot to have a date. The dining area is small and cozy but can still be intimidate. The mood is hip and trendy. Tables are just a tad too close together but not to the point where you’re on top of your neighbor.
Service was good, waiter was attentive and friendly. He offered was excellent suggestions and was available when I needed him without being in my face constantly.
I started with the pork medallion, crisp outside with a nice warm center, moist and tender and seasoned well. For my main course I had the Lamb ragu with tagliatelle. The portion size was perfect, enough to leave me full but not stuffed. Lamb was tasty and well flavored, noodles were an excellent consistency, sauce was tangy with a hint of zest.
Good spot to enjoy a fine meal and a couple of drinks with that someone special.