Vegan
American
Mediterranean
Juice bar
Delivery
Take-out
Catering

Vegan deli and botanical bar established May 2021. Has an Italian-inspired menu, cocktails, zero-proof mixed drinks, wine, and beer. Deli offers fast-casual service and the botanical bar has table service. Deli also sells merchandise, wine, and has a vegan cheese shop with an array of artisanal vegan cheeses. Deli opens at 11:00am daily and bar opens at 4:00pm daily. Online ordering is available or deli items via he website. Casual and full-service catering inquiries can be placed via the form on the website. Open Mon-Thu 11:00am-11:00pm, Fri 11:00am-12:00am, Sat 10:00am-12:00am, Sun 10:00am-11:00pm. Botanical Bar open 4:00pm - 11:00pm Wed-Thur & Sun, and 4:00pm - 12:00am Fri-Sat.


Venue map for DC Vegan
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170 Reviews

First Review by MaraK

KalikaG

Points +100

Vegan
25 Jul 2024

Amazing Find!! Celebrated our 20 year anniversary here. Great choice!!

Everything we had was incredible. The cauliflower wings were wonderful, just the right amount of spicy. Paired with the blue cheese it was delicious!! We also had the potato skins, they did not disappoint, it was the main draw for us and they was everything we hoped they would be. Crunchy cheesy deliciousness! My husband had the meatballs and enjoyed them also. We had the peanut butter cheesecake and oreo cheesecake for dessert and they were large decadent pieces! I definitely recommend this restaurant. We ate downstairs in the bar area which has a more formal feel vs a cafe feel.

Pros: Potato Skins, Cauliflower Wings, Cheesecake

Cons: Pricey

samboae

Points +218

Vegan
16 Jul 2024

Food amazing, desserts need major improvement!

I'm sooo torn on my review because the dinner was absolutely remarkable, but the desserts were EXTREMELY disappointing😭
Atmosphere:
My friend and I had a reservation to sit outside, and the server was very kind and helpful. I wish there had been a fan of some sort outside because it was definitely humid with the recent rain. I got to meet the owners and their pup, Lentil, which was a treat since I had my dog with me as well! The mosquitoes were tearing us up, so I wish they had bug spray readily available, as we were offered some only after we had finished our meal.
Food:
I had the non-alcoholic Sundrop and it was great. My friend had originally ordered the Aperol Spritz-ish, but we both thought it tasted very odd and not refreshing at all. Our server was fantastic and let her switch out for another drink. She got the Queen of the Meadow and it was really great!
For dinner, we shared the calamari, chicken piccata, and lasagna. The chicken piccata was totally addicting, and my absolute favorite! The lasagna and calamari were also delicious. I will say, for the price, you would think the portions would be a bit bigger.
For dessert, I went up to the deli and got a few things. I got two macarons (one vanilla, one fruit), a cannoli, tiramisu, and carrot cake. After trying all of them, I'm super disappointed in both the quality and taste.
Of the macarons, the fruit flavored one was definitely the best of all of the desserts I tried. However, the white macaron had both the taste and texture of a Smartie - it was not good at all.
The cannoli was okay - the only taste it really had was just of sugar, no vanilla bean or anything like that to make it feel like an authentic cannoli.
The tiramisu was extremely disheartening, and the one I make at home is much more flavorful. For starters, it's made with a regular plain cake instead of lady fingers. The cake has no flavor, and hadn't been soaked in espresso as is a typical tiramisu. The "cream" on top simply tasted like cool whip, with a pinch of cocoa and espresso dusting. There was just no love or richness to it, just underwhelming cream😕
Finally, the carrot cake was a huge letdown. The cake itself was very dry and lacked distinguishable flavor. Carrot cake is typically a medley of spices and flavors. I was disappointed to see that the cake didn't have a rich cream cheese frosting. Instead, it had that typical cheap icing that you find on grocery store cakes.

inkybrown

Points +350

Vegan
01 Jul 2024

Botanical Bar

I've been to DC Vegan a few times, but finally made it to the fancier menu at Botanical Bar downstairs. The chick'n piccata was good, but the vegan cheese board ($50) was well overpriced. Still, I'd go back but order something different!

capypig

Points +315

Vegan
17 Jun 2024

Yummy desserts

We stopped by here in the afternoon for desserts. There are so many options! They had macarons, four types of cheesecake, cupcakes, and pudding. Everything is vegan! We tried the raspberry cheesecake and a vanilla cupcake and they were amazing😋 It was like $15 though, so a little pricy.

Pros: Vegan desserts, Good location

KimFiona

Points +44

Vegan
29 May 2024

Soooooo good

Sandwiches, Bowl, calamari, salad, fries is so good. Very good vegan food. So so recommend. Macarons also good.

jeffsheldon

Points +1204

Vegan
25 May 2024

Great meal but you have to get dessert and some cheese to go

During our recent trip to the nation's capital, we had the pleasure of dining at DC Vegan, a charming vegan restaurant that left us thoroughly impressed. From the moment we stepped inside, we were warmly greeted at the counter. The staff member, upon learning it was our first visit, enthusiastically recommended some of their popular dishes.

Our culinary adventure began with the **King Trumpet Calamari**—lightly fried mushroom rings served with cashew parmesan and marinara. As a mushroom lover, I found these to be an incredible starter, perfectly crispy and bursting with flavor.

For our main courses, we tried two sandwiches. The **Chick'n Cutlet Club** was the standout favorite, featuring a crispy chick'n cutlet, veggie bacon, pesto aioli, romaine, and tomato. The combination was delightful, each bite offering a satisfying crunch. Our second choice, the **Chick'n Parm**, consisted of a crispy chick'n cutlet, almond ricotta, house marinara, arugula, and Parmesan. While it was good, it didn't quite measure up to the exceptional Chick'n Cutlet Club.

Dessert was the highlight of our meal, with a vast selection to choose from. We opted for the **Chocolate Oreo Cheesecake** and the **Carrot Cake**, taking them to go since we were already full. Both desserts were delectable and provided generous portions that we happily shared later.

Before leaving, we couldn't resist picking up some of DC Vegan's vegan cheeses. The **Smokey Cheddar** was particularly outstanding and quickly became a favorite.

**Summary:**
- **Service:** 5 stars. Friendly and helpful staff made us feel welcome.
- **Atmosphere:** 4 stars. Great setting, though the steep stairs might be challenging for some.
- **Food:** 4 stars. Excellent flavors, especially the Chick'n Cutlet Club and King Trumpet Calamari.
- **Dessert:** 5 stars. Delicious and generously portioned.
- **Value:** 4 stars. Worth the visit for both the quality and variety offered.

If you're passing through DC, DC Vegan is definitely a must-visit spot for delicious vegan cuisine.

Pros: Great Service, Cheeses. You have to get these, Desserts

Cons: Stairs might be an issue for some

argofilms@gmail.com

Points +24

Vegan
21 May 2024

25 Stars!! Fantastic in every way!

The food, the ambience, the management, the drinks - everything was so excellent, I ate there twice during a quick trip to DC! This restaurant is a gem. The food was out of this world!! ♥♥♥♥♥

Pros: All vegan, Great menu, Wonderful atmosphere

Urdasato

Points +459

Vegan
18 May 2024

Nice vibe and food

There is deli and restaurant seating and we ate at the deli seating because we didn’t have a reservation at the restaurant and they were full. The deli seating was actually very spacious and comfortable.

We loved the vibe, decor, service and food. We ordered the king trumpet calamari, breakfast bowl, frittata, mushroom truffle omelette, blueberry bar and chocolate dipped cannoli. Everything was delicious though we felt the main dish’s portion was rather small for the price. So, overall, it was a 4.5 experience if we could give that.

AlvinBon

Points +7397

Vegan
16 May 2024

SuperKate

Food was beautiful, the whole staff was very nice, but Kate was the best! She is very attentive and friendly, so makes you feel comfortable and cheers you up, especially when outside is cold...you need warm people.
I had cauliflower wings, meetballs, cannoli, and tiramisù to go. All amazing!!
Totally recommended!!

Updated from previous review on 2024-05-16

Pros: Friendly staff, Delicious food, Good variety on the menu

Cons: Non compostable/biodegradable package for takeaway

Goinesvegansoon

Points +37

Vegetarian
11 May 2024

Great vibe, delicious food!

First time coming here and I tried the calamari, lasagna, and focaccia. Everything was tasty and the portions were large. Worth another visit to try more things on the menu.

JulianaCasati

Points +3325

Vegan
09 May 2024

High-end experience

This place is beautiful and the staff is so nice. The whole experience feels quite sophisticated as soon as you walk through the door - including the prices, unfortunately. I had the chick'n piccata, which was good, but nothing too special. For dessert, I couldn't decide between all the incredible options on display, so I had to order two: a cannoli and a macaroon. Both were quite tasty, but not amazing. To be honest, I was expecting a bit more from the food, but I probably didn't make the best choices of dishes. I would definitely come again to try other items, as the whole experience was really lovely.

mansaJayyy

Points +41

Vegan
05 May 2024

Great food and service

The staff was very friendly! I really enjoyed the chocolate cake and the Chesapeake fritter

Pros: Great food, Friendly staff

Cons: Pricey

veganeatsglobal

Points +493

Vegan
03 May 2024

Great fries

I would recommend their downstairs if you’re looking for more of a bar vibe. The food was great - I would go back to try more!

simmshr1

Points +60

Vegan
08 Apr 2024

Insanely Good!

I so wished I lived in DC so I could return sooner! This restaurant is truly a top tier experience. Yes, it's pricey, but I think the flavors lived up to the price. The calamari was sooo good and I don't usually like potato skins, but these were incredible. My husband had the eggplant dish, so scrumptious! The only thing I didn't love was the cannolis. I loved cannolis before going vegan, but I have yet to find one where the filling is texturally similar to non-vegan cannolis. These had a whipped cream filling, which tasted good, but they could do better. The ambience is fabulous as well and making a reservation was easy- though you should make one well in advance. However, people were able to get seats at the bar without reservations on the day we were there.

Pros: Absurdly tasty food!, Great ambience, Easy reservations

Cons: Pricey, Cannolis need improvement

Casbrrrrr

Points +205

Vegan
04 Apr 2024

Fresh Food

The food was very fresh, I could tell even the bread is made in house. They had a nice selection of vegan cheeses too. Minus a star because their prices are way too expensive! I paid over $30 for a sandwich and a cheese block.

Pros: Good food

Cons: Expensive

Leo27

Points +789

Vegan
01 Apr 2024

Great vegan option in Wash. D.C.

I went for lunch, right at 11am, service was nice and food good. The deli upstairs looks pleasant, free water is available and what I loved is real cutlery and plates, no plastics or other single use dishes. It's a bit pricy I'd say but actually worth it😉

lvd

Points +379

Vegan
30 Mar 2024

Good food

I enjoyed my meal in the Botanical Bar, but I found it not very innovative. The portions were a good size. I was disappointed that meat replacements such as impossible were used in some of the dishes. Also, the mashed potatoes were an odd consistency. I really liked the cheese shop and dessert options upstairs.

Pros: Intimate, Good service

Cons: Expensive

stonecat

Points +738

Vegan
29 Mar 2024

Delicious

I had the meatball bowl and a canolli. Both were 😋

John Kevin

Points +90

Vegan
26 Mar 2024

A Must Try

I've been dining at DC Vegan every time I'm in town for at least 3 years. Insider tips: 1. Order/dine in the deli upstairs for a better chance of getting a table. 2. They advertise open til 11 p.m. Sundays, but the deli closes at 8 Sundays. This continues to befuddle customers, create a kitchen backup, and often results in people eating out of paper bags at picnic tables conveniently located outside. 3. Eating utensils are "a curious thing" here. Sometimes, I receive a piece of cake with a spoon. Or no utensils at all. When I've asked for disposable utensils with a to go order, it's often a weird mashup of devices that don't pair with the food being consumed ... like a fork and Italian wedding soup. This said, their food is the bomb! My all-time faves are the lasagna, eggplant rollatini, and tiramisu. Bonus: The side salad that accompanies entrees is always lighty and refreshingly dressed. Another bonus: Dine in orders in the deli are served on glass plates. Expensive? Yes - e.g. $31 for lasagna and $12 for a slice of carrot cake ... but worth it. Based on my experience, DC Vegan is hands down the best vegan restaurant in the District. Never disappoints (but sometimes confuses).

Pros: Flavors , Diverse crowd

Cons: Logistical curveballs, Prices topped out

TEE427

Points +277

Vegan
24 Feb 2024

Check it out for Yummy appetizers

My husband and I enjoyed DC vegan. We stopped here for a quick late lunch and we had the Shareables, which included the fried cauliflower, the potato skins and the calamari. They did a great job with the calamari, the texture was on point. The potato skins were to die and cauliflower wings I would say was OK I think it was a bit too saucy and the buffalo flavor one didn't taste like the usual buffalo flavor. We really liked the Place. Service was great and I think it's definitely worth checking out if you're in the DC area and you like plant based or you are vegan like us. They also had lots of desserts, which we did not partake in, but they did look yummy, and they also had vegan wines for sale.

Pros: Food, Atmosphere

Cons: Pricey for appitzers

NYCswimmer

Points +460

Vegan
23 Feb 2024

Great vegan food!

Delicious highly imaginative dishes! Great service

Pros: Jack fruit sandwich , King oysters calamari , Cesar salad

Cons: Deserts are ok but not exceptional

AthLifer

Points +285

Vegan
20 Feb 2024

Many great options

Thank you for having so many great options!

MeMeMeow

Points +312

Vegan
17 Feb 2024

Amazing!

I’m so glad I came here! Searched up Highest Rated place in DC and this place kept coming up. The service was amazing, the food was innovative and delicious, and I’ve been searching high and low for vegan cannolis and found them here! Must try ⭐️

Pros: Yummy, Great portions , Friendly staff

Cons: Pricey but worth it

greenbluegray

Points +1365

Vegan
07 Jan 2024

Good date spot and then take home some vegan wine from upstairs

We loved how each table had animal art. Dark and romantic inside with inspired cocktail list and wines. We loved hearty Italian-style dishes which we often don't see on vegan menus. Friendly staff. We splurged on dinner and then spent almost as much upstairs on bottled and canned wine and other snacks. You can purchase food at the counter and eat in the space up there, similar menu. Don't miss the mushroom calimari.

SarahFont

Points +20

Vegan
16 Dec 2023

Great option

Good food, convenient location. My go-to in the DuPont area.

Pros: Good desserts, Friendly service, Healthy options

pambev

Points +350

Vegan
02 Dec 2023

Lovely

Nice to be here with good people, atmosphere, people.

DanguoleB.

Points +73

Vegan
30 Nov 2023

Nice atmosphere

The mushroom tofu bowl was alright. Maybe a bit too oily for my taste. Cheesecake - delicious. The atmosphere - lovely.




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