dLeña

dLeña reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. A

   Alexandra

   Washington DC1 review

   4.0

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 4

   My friend and I went to dLeña to celebrate a recent promotion, after she raved about her wonderful experience for her birthday brunch. Unfortunately, while the food was good, our experience there was not so positive. Our reservation was for 1:30 PM (with a 2 hour time limit), but when making the reservation, there were no notes that the kitchen closed at 2:45 PM. As a result, we virtually only had time for a 1 hour brunch. From the moment we began ordering dishes for the bottomless brunch, our waitress rushed us through the process, constantly checking her watch, looking displeased when we ordered only 4 dishes at a time, etc. At 2:15 PM, she told us the kitchen would close in a half hour. We eventually started ordering more dishes at a time to ensure all the food was ordered before the kitchen closed; although more dishes came out, the used/dirty dishes weren't cleaned up at the same rate. Around 2:30 PM, we asked for more coffee, and the waitress came back to report that the coffee had been dumped out and a new pot would have to be made. She gave the impression that it was a big inconvenience, as if to dissuade us. We asked how long it would take to brew a new pot and were told it would be 8 minutes; it took only 2. As we were wrapping up far before the 2 hour time limit, other waiters and staff tried to hurry people out of the restaurant. Our negative experience was largely due to our waitress, who was never friendly, was sometimes hard to flag down, and often looked unhappy with us; conversely, when my friend went for her birthday, her waiter was very friendly and gave her group a positive experience. Overall, I'd recommend going to dLeña for brunch, but since the reservation system won't inform you, I recommend going at 12 PM at the latest. You can't control who your waiter is and how it will impact your experience, but the timing will hopefully help.
   

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2. M

   Mary Beth

   Richmond1 review

   5.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This was my third time in DC dining at d’Lena’s while entertaining customers or friends and it has never disappointed. The service, food & ambience are fantastic! I highly recommend the Ceviche’, Empanadas & Crab Meat Guacamole as Appetizers.
   

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3. C

   Clarence VIP

   Greater Boston4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Great atmosphere. Food was excellent. Gave me miami vibes.
   

   dLeñaResponded 3 days ago

   Thank you for your 5 star review! We're so glad to see that our team at dLeña made such an incredible impression! We take pride in providing you with an experience that you'll remember - from the impeccable food, to the dedicated service, and so much more. We would love to have you back soon!
   

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4. M

   Marissa

   Washington DC4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Beautiful restaurant with amazing food! We took advantage of the happy hour at the bar before moving to outdoor seating for dinner. The bar was beautiful and margaritas were delicious. The bartender showed us some cool bottles of tequila that they had. We ordered Carnitas, roast chicken, and carrots, and broccolini for dinner. The Carnitas were falling off the bone and were served with acute taco set up with the most light and airy blue corn tortillas. Everything was so delicious!
   

   dLeñaResponded 3 days ago

   Hi Marisa, thank you for taking the time to share such a fantastic review! We’re so delighted to hear that you absolutely loved your experience with us, from the happy hour margaritas to dining outdoors. It’s great to know you appreciated the unique tequila selection and that the Carnitas and blue corn tortillas left such a lasting impression. We take pride in crafting delicious, memorable meals, and it means so much to hear your kind words about our food and ambiance. We’d be delighted to welcome you back soon for another dinner (and perhaps another round of margaritas). Thanks again for your support!
   

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5. A

   Apurva

   New York City3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Butta BUTTAFUOCO! BUTTAFUOCO WRAPPER WITH THE BASEBALL BAT!
   

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6. Z

   Zurian

   Washington DC2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 21, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing food, amazing service! s/o to Maritza the hostess and Giselle our server 🥂!
   

   dLeñaResponded 3 days ago

   Thank you so much for your 5 syat rating! We're so pleased to hear how much you enjoyed both the food and the service. We'll be sure to pass along your shoutout to Maritza and Giselle—they’ll be delighted to know they made your experience so special and unforgettable. We look forward to having you back for another incredible visit soon!
   

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7. M

   Maxwell

   Unspecified1 review

   5.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Good food, great service. I really enjoyed my time there.
   

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8. S

   Sydney

   Cincinnati1 review

   5.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This spot was absolutely amazing! We went for dinner and it was so amazing, we came back for brunch. We heard amazing things from locals and this spot did not disappoint! Come hungry for sure! Great prices!
   

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9. G

   Griselda

   Orange County1 review

   4.0

   Dined on April 18, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   The ambiance was super energetic, great music, a little loud but fun. The manager came over to check on us and was kind. I was eyeing a few items on the menu that sounded amazing. The food was overall good but I told the waitress I didn’t like onions and she went on to say almost everything has onions, like 90%, which was a little disheartening. She also said they can’t take it out. So when I asked her can she recommend what didn’t have onion, she pointed out two items. I asked about a couple others and she said “oh yes that also doesn’t have it” and then started to say she could ask the kitchen to not put it on this or that after being prompted. I settled for a queso fundido, which was good, and a kale salad, also unexpectedly good and a very large portion. My husband had the brazino, which he really enjoyed. I had the jamaica which was delicious too. The waitress was nice enough but didn’t offer many options. It wasn't bad service. I just expected a little more, I suppose.
   

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   dLeñaResponded 3 days ago

   Hi Griselda! Thank you for taking the time to share a review of your experience with us. We're so happy to hear that you enjoyed the energetic ambiance, the music, and your meal selections like the queso fundido, kale salad, and your husband's branzino. It’s also great to know that our manager’s visit made a positive impression, and you enjoyed the jamaica as well. We truly appreciate your comments and are grateful that you found many aspects of your visit enjoyable. We hope it won't be long before your next visit!
   

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10. L

    Lauren

    New York City5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    The food was delicious! Service was a 10/10! Definitely plan on visiting again.
    

    dLeñaResponded 3 days ago

    Hi Lauren, we're absolutely thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your visit to dLeña! It's fantastic to know that our food and service went beyond expectations. We always aim to provide a top-notch dining experience for our guests and your feedback lets us know we're on the right track. We look forward to welcoming you back soon for another 5 star experience!
    

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