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The Red Hen
Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar$$$$
LeDroit Park - Bloomingdale, Washington
The folks at Washington Post and Eater like this place. Would you agree?
"The Rigatoni with vodka sauce & Fennel Sausage is fantastic."(14 Tips)
"rigatoni with fennel sausage ragu and the saffron zucca!!"(4 Tips)
"ricotta crostini with truffle honey"(3 Tips)
"Chicken liver mousse, burrata, and short ribs were all fantastic."(7 Tips)
86 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- good for dates
- pasta
- trendy
- fennel sausage ragu
- desserts
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Richard RevillaApril 19, 2015This is a piece of heaven. Staff is amazing Chef is amazing. The Rigatoni was so good I ordered a second plate. Suckling pig was to die for and then they just top it off with maple custard dessert.
Karen ElizabethAugust 21, 2016There's an off menu pasta, ask your server! Don't get scared by the wine list. It is weird, but in the best way and the staff is super knowledgeable.
ZoeJanuary 1, 2018Mezzi rigatoni is the staple. Don’t miss it. Chicken liver mousse is decadent. Ricotta cavatelli & squid ink linguini are solid as well. Red hen shines truly bc they cook their pasta perfectly.
AJ SiegelJanuary 25, 2019Always a big hit for Camille and I. This is the first time we brought friends and they loved it. You have to order at least one thing from each section of the menu. It is such a worthwhile journey.
Washington PostApril 1, 2015Try the mezze rigatoni, house-made dry pasta, with fennel sausage ragu made with local pork, toasted fennel seed, pepper and floral fennel pollen. The popular dish is both familiar and unfussy. Read more
Donna McMay 24, 2014Tourist Tip: This lovely neighborhood restaurant is bustling - so make reservations or hustle for bar seats. Order the cacio e pepe, even when not on the menu, and share the chicken "fra diavolo"
- Washington PostJuly 17, 2013Critic Tom Sietsema: Nothing predictable about wine selection. Get: 2011 chablis from Gilbert Picq ($50). For food, get the baby octopus or hand-made pastas. Share the fried artichokes or crostini. Read more
Maria CirincioneMarch 1, 2015Definitely try the grilled octopus. We loved the rigatoni with fennel sausage ragu and the saffron zucca!! The Brussels sprouts were perfect and the maple and brown butter gelato sundae was awesome!
Elizabeth BrantonApril 19, 2014Love red hen. Smoked ricotta w truffled honey, orange wine, the rigatoni, chicken or rabbit fettuccine. Maple custard w toasted hazelnut crumb topping be still my heart
L CeeDecember 16, 2014The crispy Brussels sprouts were seriously amazing. I've never tasted them prepared better. The Spinach Fettuccine with Braised Duck Sugo was simply delicious as well. Believe the hype.
Lauren HughesMarch 31, 2015Delicious pasta, helpful staff, cozy space. Topped off with a great wine selection. I hope to come again.- Washington PostApril 10, 2014Fried artichokes arrive at your table as a mountain of crisp, flower-like buds, brightened with fresh sprigs of dill and a tart lemon aioli with capers and anchovy. Read more
Tin KadoicMay 21, 2015Italian homemade food, great pasta, creative dessert. Go there when in DC. Also, Croatian and Slovenian wines. Orange wines. Chamomile grappas.
JohannaSeptember 9, 2015The burrata and rigatoni are both musts. Highly recommend the Barbera blend if you're looking for a good red!
- JohannaSeptember 9, 2015Burrata and rigatoni are "must dos." I highly recommend the Barberra blend if you're looking for a good glass of red!
Carolina RevillaApril 18, 2015Amazing dinner and service. Had the suckling pig sandwich and the custard for dessert. Very creative menu with an open kitchen and rustic look.
Marc MayersonMarch 9, 2014great drinks. fabulous food at appropriate prices. Best to get a reservation. Lots of vegtarian options, Interesting, extremely well- prepared food. Wonderful vibe.- Tough to get reservations now that it's so popular but it's well worth the trip. Chicken liver mousse, burrata, and short ribs were all fantastic.
Hank RodriguezMarch 28, 2015The Rigatoni; Brussel Sprouts were perfect & well balanced. And heirloom apple crumble with vanilla bean ice cream was such a great way to end the meal.- Ruel TyerDecember 23, 2017Everything we had was good! The brussel sprouts were amazing, cheese is great quality and you can’t go wrong with the pastas.
- Alex GirolamoMay 27, 2018Fried cauliflower, fennel sausage cavatelli, rigatoni bolognese, and budino for dessert
- Washington PostOctober 16, 2013Intriguing wines at user-friendly prices make this bustling newcomer in Bloomingdale worth crossing town for, but so, too, does the relaxed Italian cooking from Michael Friedman.
Caitlin RushAugust 8, 2014The rotating menu of fresh, seasonal ingredients is incredible. The maple custard with hazelnut crumble is not to be missed.
Caccio e pepe is delicious! They'll make it for you even if it's not on the menu. It's on par with many I've had in Rome!
olivier PEYRESeptember 10, 2014"You’ll linger over bowls of pillowy ricotta cavatelli folded with shredded lamb and bacon, or silky, squid-ink paccheri tossed with tender calamari rings and meaty chickpeas." FR
Leandro LageraMay 28, 2016Best. Food. Ever. Would go here every night if I could. Try the savory burrata and the squid ink pasta.
Smoked trout crostini, beet salad, baby octopus, warm olives and gnocchi. That's what you should order for two. All splittable and stupid delicious.
Travis GrossiSeptember 7, 2015One of the best places I've been to. Everything is fresh and delicious -- order family style and share!
RyanSeptember 12, 2014Walked in at 5pm on a Sunday and got a table. Come 6pm, you won't get a table. Don't let this scare you. So worth it.
Liver mousse, burrata, and squid ink linguini are my favorites. But everything is amazing.- JohannaOctober 12, 2014All around good meal. Highlights were the black paccheri with calamari and maple custard with hazelnut crumb.
John StevensonMay 15, 2016Literally everything is inventive and amazing. Cocktails made based on preferred flavor profile
Amy CummingsNovember 11, 2018It’s off the menu, but they have the most amazing Cacio e Pepe—just ask your server!
ChristianOctober 16, 2013Order the brussel sprouts with dill and anchovy aioli for what our waiter so appropriately called "a bowl of awesomeness!"
2M StreetAugust 13, 2014Make everyone at your table order something different so you can taste the whole menu! It's amazing!
Liz Caselli-MechaelJanuary 4, 2015If you aren't sure what you want to drink, let the bartender play around! We ended up with great cocktails
Check out the wines from Slovenia's Goriška Brda. They're normally very hard to find in the U.S., and excellent.
Roniel TesslerOctober 10, 2015The veggie extras were delectable! The pork was a bit bland so stick with the pasta, which are all amazing.
Andrew WhiteAugust 18, 2016Very tasty Italian. Pasta all dente and perfectly seasoned. Gnocchi blocks disappointing
Brian T.July 30, 2015Often very busy, but it's usually possible to snag a seat at the bar if you're just walking in
The seasonal burrata and cavatelli are consistently amazing.- Sit at the bar for the full menu and a great view of the kitchen.
Anthony BeharryApril 20, 2014The lamb meatloaf is a high end gyro. Pretty good but I wish I tried the chicken. It is called red hen..
179 Photos
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Closed until 5:30 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Thu
- 5:30 PM–10:00 PM
- Fri
- 5:30 PM–11:00 PM
- Sat
- 5:00 PM–11:00 PM
- Sun
- 5:00 PM–9:30 PM
(202) 525-3021
Features
Reservations
Yes
Credit Cards
Yes
Wi-Fi
No
Outdoor Seating
No
Food & Drink
Menus
Dinner
Drinks
Wine, Full Bar, Cocktails
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"Go for the barrel aged Manhattan and the bread pudding. Just amazing!"
ketzirah lesser - 7.7
"They now serve coffee (iced and hot) starting 7 a.m during the week, as well as pastries (danishes, croissants, etc)."
Huma - 8.2
"Great neighborhood bar, great bartenders, great food. Try the gochujang cauliflower and the Heidi fried chicken sandwich"
Sarah Mimms
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