Stopped in for a late lunch in this heat. We were greeted at the door and quickly had a giant bottle of water at the table. Everyone was friendly and ready to take our order. My phone couldn't scan the QR for menu, I was given a paper version. Didn't have time to take pictures of the food since it was all so good! Thanks for the good food and great service!
We went to Duke's Counter twice because we live just nearby. The first time we got chicken tenders and fish and chips and weren't so impressed. Service was fine but food/taste was just so ordinary. That's the reason why we didn't go back again until a year later and only because it's one of the few places that were open on July 4th. We ordered fish and chips (it's in kid's menu) and this time I decided to leave this review because it was pretty bad. The fish tasted like those frozen fish you can buy at a supermarket. It was rubbery and awful. Fries are thick and soft. We won't come back here again. Its really too bad because the location is great. Staff is friendly. But food just needs a lot of improvement.
Duke's is a great local spot where the service was excellent and very accommodating and has a great location right across from the Smithsonian National Zoo. I believe the food is locally sourced and is prepared incredibly well, with great vegan/vegetarian options. There were also great options or imported and local draft beers. With the great location, the high quality of food, and the service, Duke's deserve a great review.
I read a few bad reviews of Duke's when I first moved to DC and it kept me from trying them for too long. They have good service and the food is excellent. The burgers and truffle Mac n cheese are great. Honestly, we haven't tried anything we didn't like.
I'm a creature of habit and I've ordered the same meal every couple weeks from Duke's - Spicy Aubergine and fries. The meal has been solid for years. Until today. The eggplant was razor thin and thickly breaded. The opposite of usual. And the fries were horrible. Hard like they were deep fried multiple times. Hopefully it was a bad day for the kitchen and not some kind of new normal. I'll go back next week and try it again. FYI, I typically order takeout. While I like bars, Duke's is small and typically out of multiple beers. Not my jam.
UNBELIEVABLE BURGERS!!! As I write this review hours after eating here, all I can think about is how good the burger was. I'm not sure what sauce they used, but the ingredients went together so well. It was by far one of the best burgers I've eaten in a long time.The staff are all very friendly and it only took them about 5 minutes to have the burgers ready. Would HIGHLY recommend going
Went to visit the zoo hungry and they had nothing worth while in the zoo food wise so this place. Are in handy- Super nice service, huge portions, excellent food and drinks ?
Swamp WaterMe, my pregnant wife, and my 2-year old decided to eat at Duke's Counter after a grueling couple of hours at the zoo today. Our feet were aching, we'd been through innumerable bottles of water, had eaten snacks but missed breakfast that morning, and were looking forward to a good meal. Duke's Counter seemed a good choice since we'd had pleasant experiences at its counterpart - Duke's Corner - some time prior. Immediately after we were seated, the first thing we noticed was the table was sticky with residue from many past meals. My wife dismissed it as a problem specific to the type of wood used in its construction and not necessarily the hygiene/sanitation standards maintained at the restaurant. I figured if it was good enough for the pregnant lady, it was good enough for me. We were served water and my wife proceeded to drink several glasses in huge gulps - she was extremely thirsty from walking around in 80 degree weather with her enormous belly, so I wanted her to get her fill before I did. As she was pouring out a final glass, a large, straggly, black substance plopped into her glass. It was mold. Horrified, she peered into the empty bottle then quietly passed it to me. The entire bottom and the lower circumference were covered with a layer of mold. One of the most disgusting things I've ever seen. We couldn't have known because the bottle we were served with was opaque. We immediately alerted the owner/manager, who happened to be a couple of feet away. After a mumbled apology, he took the moldy water away and returned with more water...in the same type of opaque bottle. Needless to say, there was no way in hell we were taking another sip. We asked a waiter how such a thing could possibly have happened if proper cleaning protocols were being observed, and he responded that he was at a loss, but it was indeed an isolated incident. Suffice to say, we didn't believe him and got the hell out of there. Several hours later and I'm still disgusted.
I have been here twice while visiting D.C. Both times have gotten the Truffle Mac & Cheese, it's amazing. Comes to the table in a piping hot skillet. Husband got Pastrami and it was huge. They have fantastic french fries. The servers and service couldn't of been better. Right across the street from the zoo, great location!
I had the Impossible burger. It was delicious. Their special sauce made it taste so good