Plume

The best.
Another meal, another winner.
Everything was delicious.
Bream, succulent. Bison steak melted in my mouth. Mango gratin and butterscotch pudding delicious.
Every course and wine pairing was on target.
Hostess. waiters, sommelier all friendly and full of information about the food and wine.
If only I had buckets of money. I’d eat here monthly rather than annually

This has been one of my BEST dining experiences ever.
Plume checked all the boxes of what I expect a high-​class, fine-​dining restaurant to be. Valet parking validated, check. Lovely host who takes care of your jacket, check. A stool for my purse (whaaatt?), I’ll take it! A beautiful, intimate atmosphere with majestic lighting and a warm fireplace right by your table, check. Exceptional service, check x10. My +1 and I arrived at 5:45, and had to leave for a show by 7 pm. The staff was fully aware of it and made sure to have all our dishes ready to go, without making us feel too rushed. I was a bit stress about making the show on time, but by the end, I felt so at ease because of the staff, and I didn’t want to leave! It was fantastic.
The most important check box of all — delicious food that melts in your mouth, yes all the way. From the butter selection to the garnish on my dessert plate, I was made a very happy lady this evening. We ordered from the prix fixe menu, which had a great selection and good portions. Here’s what I got — I’d highly recommend them all, given I finished every last bite!
* Pre-​Appetizer: As I’ve found in most fine-​dining restaurants, we were served a pre-​appetizer plate with bite-​size food. This one featured some polenta, octopus, and duck liver. Although just bite-​size, each was packed with a complexity of flavors and textures.
* Butter & Bread: The sour dough and pretzel rolls were delicious on their own and always felt like they just came out of the oven. Their selection of simple salted, tomato spiced, and garlic thyme butter was the cherry on top.
* Appetizer: Shaved Pumpkin — The pumpkin is soaked in a citrus that makes the pumpkin so light, tasty, and fresh; it made the pumpkin so easy to eat. When I first got my plate, I thought to myself «how am I going to eat all this pumpkin?», and by the end, I was hoping for more.
* Entrée: Lobster Gratin — Usually when I order lobster, I expect a rather meager portion, but that wasn’t the case at Plume. The lobster was beautifully served in a large lobster shell that was halved and already cut for easy eating — what more could I ask for? They even put the claw meat on top of it, so I wasn’t missing any part of the lobster. The lobster was so well cooked that it just melted in my mouth. And to my liking, the hollandaise sauce wasn’t too overpowering. It was creamy and complemented the lobster well.
* Pre-​Dessert: A layered cup of sorbet, raisins & custard — I would have taken this as my dessert. The sorbet was the perfect amount of citrus, and the custard had a decadent creaminess to it. I’m not a fan of raisins, so I skipped them (but I’m sure they would have put smiles on other guests’ faces!).
* Dessert: Masala Chai Panna Cotta — The presentation alone made me feel all warm inside. The whole dish was wonderfully light. While I could really taste that lovely chai flavor, it wasn’t too strong to lose the subtle, pleasant bites of honey-​pecan ice cream and pumpkin, plus the sponge cake pieces.
* Post-​Dessert: The bite-​size cakes that were given to go with our coffee were so moist, I could have eaten a bag of them. The nutty flavor to them paired well with my coffee.
* Chocolate to go!: The host had a cute package of 4 chocolate pieces waiting for me with my jacket at the door. A perfect ending to a wonderful dining experience.
* I would also recommend the dishes that my +1 got: the Veal Duo, Venison, and the Exotic Bomb (especially this one!).
After writing this rather long review, I’m already wishing to go back.

Extraordinary Dining. If you enjoy FINE dining, you will want to dine here ASAP.
The service at Plume is grown up. Don’t expect waiters who act like you are buddies. These are professionals who transport you through a meal with just enough presence and no intrusion.
The dining room is divine. Federalist antiques and chandelier but modern, clean, and just enough glamour. Everyone looks good in this room.
The food: Ask your server for recommendations on the fix price menu based upon your taste preferences and by all means do the tasting menu. In any case, come prepared to experience your favorites in an entirely NEW and modern way, better than before, and presented gorgeously.

A very good meal, especially given the price tag. Yep, a $ 100 prix fixe is a deal in this day and age of fine dining. I would put Plume in the 1 Michelin star category, though the dessert itself was a step above the rest of the meal.
The Jefferson Hotel is grand, recently renovated, and beautifully detailed. The holiday décor was on fleek. Pheasants decorated the table, wreaths had a tasteful mini photo of Thomas Jefferson in the center, and there was a gorgeous white rose centerpiece.
Our table went with the custom prix fixe option over the tasting menu. You pick the app, entrée, and dessert. The kitchen throws in an amuse, pre-​dessert, and madeleines. Prepare your stomachs.
Bread — Both the cheese bread and the multigrain rolls were fantastic. They serve it with three types of butter. I couldn’t decide which one I liked better, I had to keep trying!
Amuse bouche — Three small bites featuring turkey, eggplant, and beet. The turkey was like the best Thanksgiving leftovers on a spoon. Eggplant and beet bites were delicious as well.
Blue Crab Tea — This dish comes wheeled out in what is essentially an oversize vacuum tea brewer. A crab, flowers, and herbs sit in the top bowl. The broth sits in the bottom. Lighting a flame under the bottom bowl forces the broth to go to the top and soak up the flavors. This was entertaining and a big hit. The broth itself ended up being way too salty for my liking. Too bad because the flavors of the crab and herbs were good.
White Truffle Risotto — The egg was overdone. As in solid yolk. They redid the egg and replated the dish. The second time was perfect, and the risotto was wonderful.
Lobster Gratin — The yuzu hollandaise sauce added great brightness to a heavy dish. There were also strong celery notes. Lobster was very tender.
Spiced Honey Glazed Venison Loin — The table agreed that the venison was exceptional. No gaminess and cooked just right. The pistachio topping went well. The grit cake was too salty and didn’t add to the dish. Plating was amusing with a random bone (clearly not part of the loin) sticking out.
Dessert — I tried 4 of the desserts, and OMG every single one blew my mind. The plating, design, and flavors could hold their own in a 2 Michelin star restaurant. The passionfruit mango sorbet and the yuzu ice cream were incredible. The chocolate bomb was decadent chocolate heaven. Amazing.
The wine menu is rather extensive, as in 1300+ labels. The sommelier helped pick out two bottles that were easy to drink. After dinner drinks include an impressive Madeira selection which they wheel out on a cart. Speaking of carts, they had a fancy cheese cart as well.
Service was good, though it wasn’t as polished as other fine dining spots. They didn’t offer to take my coat. The sparkling and still water were confused during a refill. Our waiter failed to mention the automatic upcharge for the truffle dish. The menu was unclear and said «Supplement white alba truffle $ 48.» When I see supplement I expect to it be an optional upgrade. It was automatic here. Afterwards, we asked for a kitchen tour and the staff seemed hesitant at first. That struck me as odd, as similar places happily offer a tour or at least don’t look so dumbfounded at such a request.
Overall though Plume was a great experience and a good value for this level of dining.

The only Forbes five-​star restaurant in DC, Plume at the Jefferson is a very elegant and old world posh restaurant. Located inside the Jefferson hotel, the food here is inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s kitchen gardens at Monticello.
Although they do have private nooks, I recommend reserving a table in the main dining room with the fireplace. Even if it doesn’t offer the privacy of the nooks, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed sitting here among the beautiful décor, and the noise level is hardly what one calls noisy.
Having been to Quill (the Jefferson’s bar), I had a inkling as to how Plume would be like and I have been eager to try this restaurant for over a year. I reserved a table for my boyfriend’s birthday and requested to be seated in the main dining room. The restaurant accommodated by putting us in a cozy corner sitting next to each other sweetheart-​style. Our server presented me with a velvet pedestal to hold my purse.
While perusing the menu, our server brought bread and various butters (including both cheese and garlic) that was taken out at the perfect temperature. Not too hard, not too soft. Plume offers both a prix fixe menu and a tasting menu. Prix fixe is $ 98 which includes the Chef’s daily amuse bouche, appetizer, entrée, pre-​dessert, dessert, and warm petite madeleines. The tasting menu is $ 115 with 8 courses, $ 200 with classic wine experience, and $ 280 with the premium wine experience. We opted for the prix fixe menu.
Our orders:
+Diver scallops (peanut and corn puff, cauliflower purée, Arabia coffee oil, chorizo)
+Truffle arborio risotto (slow cooked Amish hen egg, parmigiano di vacche rosse)
+Lobster gratin (yuzu-​infused hollandaise sauce, mirepoix, sorrel)
+Grilled veal saddle (Amish farms glazed leeks, kohlrabi, chanterelle mushrooms, watermelon radish, sauce perigueux)
+Raspberry lemon sablé Breton (mascarpone chantilly, raspberry red poppy opaline, yuzu ice cream)
+Exotic bomb (caramelized pineapple, bourbon vanilla, coconut meringue, passion fruit-​mango sorbet)
We also ordered a half bottle of Meursault-​Blagny to go with our food. The risotto was good, although a little on the heavier side. I much preferred the diver scallops, which was not only deliciously well-​balanced but also beautifully presented. I absolutely adored my lobster gratin though. It sounds heavy but it was actually surprisingly on the lighter side. They prepared it so that you can easily pierce your fork through the lobster meat and take it out effortlessly from its shell. I thought both the raspberry lemon sablé Breton and the exotic bomb were fantastic desserts. Very well done by both the Executive and Pastry Chefs.
The service, as one can expect from such an establishment, is phenomenal. Our server was the perfect balance of attentiveness but not awkwardly hovering. The wait times between dishes was perfectly timed too. From the moment we sat down to our having paid the check, we never were without something to eat or drink.
Highly recommend Plume if you’re in need of a chic, charming restaurant. Great for any special occasion!

I’ve been to fine dining restaurants the world over and came across this brilliant gem by chance.
Haven’t had another dining experience as enjoyably intimate and classy as my visit to Plume.
When first walking in with my wife, was glad to be wearing a suit as the other patrons were all dressed to the nines.
I felt like Gatsby walking into an «old money» supper club. Atmosphere felt opulent and elegant yet restrained.
The wife loved it.
Despite clearly being the youngest patrons that evening (appearance of being in our later 20s) the waitstaff gave us the white glove treatment from the very start.
Great wine selection at reasonable prices. I recall several Chateauneuf du Pape selections in the low $ 100 range.
I experienced more of a French meal having ordered the Prix Fixe with Foie Gras Terrine appetizer and duck breast for my main. Initially wished the appetizer was a larger portion but glad it wasn’t as the duck breast size was substantial, cooked perfectly medium, and was as savory as a filet mignon (I hate rubbery duck).
I wish Toronto had a restaurant like this. If so, would make it our go-​to venue for every special occasion.

Amazing service. Great ambience. Fabulous food. The 7 courses is really filling. I definitely recommend the tasting plates.

The Thanksgiving menu review:
I have eaten at the Jefferson on numerous occasions and their offerings are always above par. The NY strip is better than BLT Steak but not Bourbon or STK. Without going into further detail, the hotel is the best boutique in D.C. and the food at the quill or the Plume dining room is surprisingly good.
However, like many restaurants on holidays, the Plume retarded its offerings down to the standard prefixed menu with bland options for Thanksgiving which is fine, because Thanksgiving food is simple, boring but can be delicious.
Unfortunately, it was not simple or delicious this Thanksgiving as everyone at my table agreed from the turkey to the Ribeye, the Emirate lounge at JFK serves better food. Our bottle of wine was the savior to our evening.
How is it the bar menu’s NY strip is far and beyond the beef jerky like Ribeye I received on thanksgiving. Tis tis so sad.
On another note, the former chef of City Zen should open a restaurant at The Capella in Georgetown. It would be perfect, their menu is quite poor, and the only edible dishes are the seasonal baked Alaska and their burgers for lunch.

With Citronelle and CityZen closed, this is the only old-​style elegant fine dining option still available in DC. There’s a quiet room with comfortable seating and many men wear ties. One red haired man, apparently Scottish, was wearing a kilt, which is something you don’t see every day. The attention to detail was outstanding with both the food and service. My wife and I had the tasting menu and premium wine pairing to celebrate her birthday. The sommelier had been replaced from the previous time (good!), and this one chose an outstanding set of wines. The food was tasty and well-​prepared in every course. The bill was extremely expensive, which means this is a special occasion restaurant, but the high price could be justified by the high quality.

Plume is a restaurant you could easily miss, tiny place in the lobby of the Jefferson Hotel. The Washingtonian magazine list is what brought us there but it’s the tasting menu that will bring us back, loved every bite.

I will keep this simple. Went for my wife’s birthday. It was our first time. Everything about the restaurant is great except the food. It was fairly well presented but the tastes were average at best. We weren’t expecting it to be an experience like «Per Se» in NY but the food definitely all around from the beginning to the end didn’t wow us. Nothing special. It all tasted just ok.

First off, this is a five star restaurant in Washington DC; so expect a five star Washington DC price (minimum $ 100 per person). That being said, I looked at this restaurant and saw that they did not have a Pre-​theatre menu and I planned on attending. The manager assured me that they will get me out in time to make our show. I arrived late 5:45 reservation; 6:10 with DC traffic.
They immediately sat my date and myself at a romantic table in front of the fire place. Dinner by fire light. The food was delicious; we had the entire tasting menu and were out by 715. I ordered the pumpkin risotto and the halibut. They were amazing along with the chef’s daily preparations.
The service was as good as the food. My water never went more than half empty and the champagne was kept chilled and the flutes to our wanting.

There are but a few times in life that a restaurant truly stands out and is memorable and Plume is one of them!
Upon entering we were immediately greeted and brought into the white marble foyer to a four person table in the front room left side. Two gentleman brought over cushioned stools (which I thought was for our feet!) it was for our purses. Wow! That’s a first I thought. Our waiters name was Christian Gaston and he took wonderful care of us start to finish!
We began with a few starters: Heirloom Tomato, Diver Sea Scallops, and the Parsley Arborio Risotto with frog leg confit. Each morsel was better than the bite before.
Amuse Bouche surprise…
Followed up by Dinner of: Beeswax Poached King Salmon– which Christian brought a bowl of the beeswax over to my husband to show us and let it gently marinate, I had the Lobster Gratin, friends had the Halibut and Angus Prime Beef. All dishes were delectable.
Amuse Bouche dessert surprise…
Simply stellar!

My new favorite place!!! The service, food and ambiance were perfect. Great place to unwind and have a wonderful meal with stellar service. Old world dining that I thought didn’t exist anymore. Loved everything about it!!! Super!
The prime rib was amazing!!! Sliced like butter and melted in my mouth.

I came here for my birthday dinner and it really was everything I could want out of a great meal. Lets talk about all the things done right:
1. PLACE IS BEAUTIFUL. The settings, the furniture, the décor, EVERYTHING was just so pretty. It would verge on being pretentious if it weren’t for the friendly staff and their welcoming personalities.
2. Hats off to the Sommelier. I love talking to someone who is just as excited about drinking wine as I am. The Sommelier was friendly, energetic, and knowledgable about all the wines on their list — going even into the full history and development of the wine. Cheers to that!
3. Amuse-​Bouche. The vegetable jelly was so absolutely fantastic.
4. The Appetizers. I got the risotto with summer truffles and a slow cooked egg. My mouth is just watering right now thinking about it. It was very big portions for an appetizer but I’m not one to complain! I love the parsnip overtone and the truffle accents — just such a comforting, cozy dish. My boyfriend got the veal and crawfish tail which was also superb.
5. The Entrees. I got the bison strip loin with the melt-​in-​your-​mouth corn soufflé and my boyfriend got the rabbit and foie gras. Oh man. That bison was so incredible tasting — perfect texture, slightly sweet, great balance with the savory sauce. The rabbit was tender and married well with the foie gras.
6. BEST DESSERT EVER. I had the red fruits vacherin and I suggest everyone get that because it was quite possibly the best dessert I have ever had in my life. I can’t even describe how MIND-​BLOWING the white chocolate mousse was. My boyfriend’s blanc mange just paled in comparison.
Come here for a special occasion, a regular occasion, or WHENEVER YOU WANT TO TREAT YO’SELF BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT.
A warning — don’t get the limoncello with your desserts. It’s gross.

Can we say, fancy?! As soon as I walked into the Jefferson hotel to check into my reservation, I could tell that the service would be impeccable.
I was greeted right away and offered a drink while I wait for the rest of my party to arrive. The atmosphere was very romantic and relaxing. If you’re looking for a quick dinner, this is not the place. This is a restaurant you want to save for a day you plan to splurge a little, or a lot! Every meal is timed perfectly in order for you to enjoy. It is not overwhelming or too much. We decided to do the Prix Fixe Menu which was just enough. We also got wine along with our dinner. This place is definitely on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for. The only thing I would request prior to making reservations is to sit on the inside section. We were seated close to the door, which made me want to peek into the actual dining room wanting to be seated in there instead.
Our waiter was extremely helpful and provided great recommendations. We tried the following:
Appetizers:
Black Salsify Velouté: Soup with pieces of Wagyu Beef, beef pieces was delicious in accordance with the creamy soup.
Truffle Arborio Risotto: One of my favs of the night! It was rich and creamy and the portion was enough to share. It comes with shredded fresh parmesan and truffle which enhance the flavor. The flavors together worked so well.
Entrees:
Filet of Martin’s Angus Prime Beef: Delicious! No complaints here. Exactly what a prime beef should be, tad bit overcooked, but regardless, tasted great.
Seared Moulard Duck Breast: This was my favorite in comparison to the prime beef. The duck breast was cooked perfectly and I would definitely recommend! The Potato Gratin pairs great with the duck breast. Flavors are all there for a great entrée.
Dessert:
Sumatra Coffee Parfait: This was amazing! I was sad I didn’t get this myself so I didn’t have to share with anyone. It was an equal balance of chocolate and coffee.

I had a wonderful time here celebrating my birthday with my boyfriend.
We got the tasting menu, and everything was superb. The weakest part of my meal — my amuse bouche — was still very, very good.
I highly recommend the restaurant. It’s gorgeous and cozy, and wait staff were accommodating. I asked to sit in the private alcove on my reservation and was pleased to find they’d set it aside when we arrived. Our waiter was attentive but not overbearing, popping his head in surreptitiously every 10 minutes to make sure we had everything we needed.
Plume is pricey, but worth every penny. It’s easily my new favorite restaurant in DC — ahead of Marcel’s by miles, and comparable to French Laundry in CA.

My mom took me here for my birthday, and wow, what a treat. It wasn’t necessarily the best food I’ve had in my life, but the overall experience was unparalleled. The attention to detail was incredible — from the moment you walk in to when you leave, every aspect of the service is impeccable. I mean, they provide a footstool for your purse so it doesn’t have to sit on the floor. :)
We did the regular prix fixe menu, rather than the tasting menu, and it was really just a spectacular meal. When I ordered the truffle risotto, the waiter brought over a whole truffle and liberally (extremely liberally) shaved it over. The new potatoes served with my entrée were wrapped in edible silver leaf. It’s those kinds of insane, over-​the-​top decadent details that make this worth the price, and definitely an experience.

I am starting the new year with my most exciting dining experience over the holiday– Plume. Plume is a restaurant inside the Jefferson hotel. The layout of the hotel did not originally have the restaurant so I can see that they have attempted to make the best of the space. The layout consists of a main area and several repurposed nook areas that seats two tables walled off from the main area. We were originally seated in the nook area which was not ideal since it was very isolated, cold, and the unavoidable eye contact with the table placed on the opposite side. I asked that we be moved which the server happily obliged (next time– I will ask to be seated in the main room when I book my reservation on Open Table).
Since we went on Christmas Day, we were surprised by how busy they were– every table was used. Regrettably, the tasting menu was not available and we had to get a prix-​fixed menu instead. The food and service was fairly good, but there are a few areas that could’ve been improved in my opinion to really make Plume a dining destination. Nonetheless, I will say that this was a very good fine dining experience for D.C.
1. Sparking or flat: our server began pouring flat water when we sat down without asking us. We wanted sparkling and was given a «tap» version which did not have enough fizz and imagine our contempt when the table next to us was offered bottled sparkling water. I know this may sound trivial but really– I expect more.
2. Used Napkin under the table: I felt a lump under the table which turned out to be a used napkin. As a fine dining establishment, I would think that they would’ve made sure to clear what is on top and below their tables after service.
3. Secluded tables that we originally sat in would’ve probably made a less than comfortable dining experience. I would steer clear of this area if possible.
4. Servers– we sat between the pillars in the main table and I notice that many of the servers were wandering aimlessly looking for something to do. This is the wrong approach. Instead, there should be servers standing post and launching into action when they see something that need attending to. As obvious as it is for patrons, it may not be so obvious for hostess and servers that they are constantly being watched and so they too must be cognizant of there effectiveness.
5. Communication– we were greeted by a server who did not tell us his name, and subsequently each dish that came out was dropped at our table without any explanation. I asked a few questions the food which the server smiled and said he didn’t know.
6. Food– as for the food itself, what I got to eat was delicious but I am really disappointed that the tasting menu was not offered. I tried the seafood soup, foie gras, duck, steak, and desserts which were all very good to excellent. The foie gras obviously beat the soup in the prixe-​fixed menu, and the duck over the steak. Overall, portion was very good and we were happy (not disgusted) with ourselves.
To date, this has been the best fine dining experience that I have experienced in the District. I look trying the tasting menu one day.

Absolutely top-​notch. Plume had been on my list for a while — if nothing else, because the photos of the restaurant are so gorgeous — and I’m happy to say that the food matched the setting and all around, dining at Plume this past weekend was really a fabulous experience.
My husband and I had a reservation at 7:15 and arrived a bit early to have a cocktail at Quill. We then checked in at Plume and were led to our table — we’d requested a table in the ‘main’ dining room (I wanted to be able to see the fireplace) and they put us at a nice two-​seater against the wall.
After perusing the menu, we chose to do the al a carte option, as my husband said he saw more items on that menu than on the tasting menu. No problems on my end, as I knew after one glance I was going to order the duck and just needed to pick my appetizer (the al a carte is $ 95 pp and includes amuse bouche, appetizer, main course, pre-​dessert, and dessert — it’s less courses than the tasting menu but still plenty of food). I decided on the black salsify veloute as my appetizer; my husband chose the truffle arborio risotto (and opted for the white truffle shavings supplement) and the angus beef. We also opted to do a ½ bottle of a VA Thibaut-​Janisson bubbly and asked the sommelier to pair glasses of wine with our main courses.
The amouse bouche came out first — it was a small soup, salmon, and honestly, I forget the other item. The amouse bouche admittngly, was a bit underwhelming, but the rest of the courses more than made up for the meal.
Of course, I happened to be in the restroom when our appetizers arrived (always pick the worst times…). I was pleased to see that mine was kept warm by a silver cover but I admit, I was sad that I’d missed the server shaving the truffles onto my husband’s dish (yes…I’m a nerd and love that sort of stuff). Both of our appetizers were fabulous. My husband’s was creamy, prepared beautifully, and the addition of the hen egg really made the dish stand out. He told me he thought it was better than the white truffle risotto he had at the French Laundry (!). My soup was absolutely delicious, with the beef seared perfectly.
Remember how I noted earlier that I missed the truffle shavings? The waiters must’ve noticed (and the fact that every time a server walked by with a box of truffles I wistingly looked their way) and no joke, they dropped two pieces of shaved truffle off for my husband and I «just because — you have to smell it!» What an above and beyond touch. (We ended up smelling the pieces, yes, and then mixing them up with my hubby’s mashed potatoes at dinner).
Our main dishes arrived along with our glasses of wine. The sommelier chose a pinot for me and a Syrah for my husband — the pairings were spot on. My lamb was prepared beautifully — seared to a gorgeous medium rare and served with a delicious and not too sweet cherry sauce and accompanied by potatoes au gratin. My husband’s beef was prepared perfectly as well (he’d requested «the color of medium rare but a little warmer») and to our surprise the server dropped off a metal container of garlic mashed potatoes — so smooth and creamy.
After devouring the pre-​dessert, my husband asked if he could switch a dessert course for a cheese course — he’d been tempted by the cheese cart all night and I ordered the pumpkin tart. Here’s one tip — the cheese plate was prepared with no input from us, so if you have cheese preferences, I’d recommend asking (lesson learned). Of the 6 cheeses on my husband’s plate, he liked 4 of them and I ate the other two so there were no problems, but we’ll be sure to ask next time. My pumpkin tart was delicious — I’m not generally a dessert person but I still have dreams about it.
For a special occasion — or heck, if you just want to go have a nice dinner, Plume was tops. It’s pricey, but I thought it was 100% worth it. I hope to be able to return soon.