Palena

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Palena is a four star restaurant in Washington. This is a great place. Located in the Woodley Park neighborhood, this restaurant is mildly expensive. It's known for its contemporary offerings. It's been awarded the Fodors Choice and 10 Best DC Romantic awards. Know before you go: this place features outdoor dining. Upon entering the restaurant, you'll find a romantic atmosphere. This restaurant features fine wines.

User Reviews of Palena

Yelp.com Review - by Cody H.

4.0 of 5 stars. I dined here in a group of three, lured by the prospect of "the best roast chicken in DC." I've never met a chicken I didn't want to eat, so I was intrigued. We arrived on the early side -- around…
yelp.com - user review - 06/30/2008
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The Roasted Chicken was Bravo!

My husband and I visited Palena twice and we never got disappointed. The service is excellent and the food is always fresh and perfectly cooked. We were very impressed with the Roasted Chicken on the cafe menu. It requires 45 minutes wait but it is REALLY worth the wait. The chicken was so juicy and tender. The marinade just brought out the flavor perfectly. That was one of the best chicken I have ever had.
openlist - user review - 05/12/2008

Yelp.com Review - by John C.

4.0 of 5 stars. Ate their last night....... Next to a gas station....
yelp.com - user review - 04/13/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Jennifer S.

5.0 of 5 stars. Palena, must be Italian for "divine." Actually, I believe it is a city in southern Italy, but creative license isn't a crime. I readily admit, I have not been to Palena in a few months now, but I am…
yelp.com - user review - 04/10/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Rawley V.

1.0 of 5 stars. Palena "requires" a credit card number for a reservation. The girl recording the reservation said this was due to "people not showing up." I asked if they then charge patrons who do not show up, and…
yelp.com - user review - 04/08/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by MiRIAM w.

5.0 of 5 stars. A thirty to forty-five minute wait for a table in the cafe on a Saturday night seemed reasonable, especially given the fact that the hostess said she would call my mobile when our table was ready.…
yelp.com - user review - 04/06/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Kenny D.

5.0 of 5 stars. Now this 5-star rating is based strictly on the bar menu. I have never sat in their dining room and ordered a meal. Their bar menu, however, is fantastic. They have multiple options for $10…
yelp.com - user review - 03/26/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Sara L.

4.0 of 5 stars. Palena is set up sort of oddly. First, theres the cafe in the front of the restaurant. Here, you can order off of a special, cheaper cafe menu or anything off of the full fine dining menu, either a la…
yelp.com - user review - 03/24/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Lenore C.

5.0 of 5 stars. Wow. I've been to the cafe and the restaurant, and everything was absolutely great. To echo others, the burger is to die for and the chicken...amaaazing. The less famous menu items change pretty…
yelp.com - user review - 03/18/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Steven S.

5.0 of 5 stars. I haven't been in sometime, but, need to go back, however, I worked for Frank Ruta in the late 90's at both the River Club and Provence (Yannik). I will say without hesitation, Frank is one of the…
yelp.com - user review - 03/04/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Jessie K.

5.0 of 5 stars. I have only ever eaten in the cafe, but if my life goes according to plan, I should someday have a job that will allow me to eat in the actual dining room. The roasted chicken, which takes 45 minutes…
yelp.com - user review - 02/18/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Jessica F.

4.0 of 5 stars. 4.5 stars We went here on a Saturday night -- tried to get there by 7 to minimize the wait I had heard about. They told us it would be about an hour, took my cell phone number, and we went down the…
yelp.com - user review - 02/11/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Robin P.

5.0 of 5 stars. The bar menu is probably the best value meal in the city. Mostly because the burger is perfect and the roast chicken mysteriously delicious. Even if Michel Richard serves a better burger at Central (I…
yelp.com - user review - 01/21/2008
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Yelp.com Review - by Stef W.

4.0 of 5 stars. There are times when a restaurant has too much hype surrounding it. As in, this place has the best [fill in the blank] in the city. Then, I go there and try the [fill in the blank] and leave feeling…
yelp.com - user review - 11/04/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Adrian L.

5.0 of 5 stars. It's been a long time since I've been to Palena, I can't remember all details of meals I've enjoyed here which have been few, but excellent. So, I can't give it a proper review except to say that…
yelp.com - user review - 10/22/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Megan H.

4.0 of 5 stars. Oh DC snobbery, you never cease to sneak into my life. Palena is located in Cleveland Park, the last stop on the red line i recommend getting off the train..any further past Cleveland Park and you'll…
yelp.com - user review - 10/14/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Lucy Z.

5.0 of 5 stars. My review is for Palena Cafe, the affordable-yet-still-delicious alternative to fancy-Palena. I was surfing the food section of WaPo when I came across the Luxe Burger Slideshow:…
yelp.com - user review - 10/06/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Paul W.

4.0 of 5 stars. Palena's cool. The front part is the cafe area. I've never eaten in the back. My wife introduced me to this place (she went there first with a foodie girlfriend) and we've been back again and again.…
yelp.com - user review - 09/21/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Leigh L.

5.0 of 5 stars. Palena lives up to the hype! I had to check it out after reading about it here on Yelp. The burger and fries are top notch and hands down the best I've had. It's the cheese on the burger and the…
yelp.com - user review - 09/20/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Meghan G.

4.0 of 5 stars. Attention carnivores: I HAVE FOUND THE BEST DAMN BURGERS IN THE CITY!!
yelp.com - user review - 09/13/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Tom D.

4.0 of 5 stars. The only thing keeping me from giving this place a 5 is the fact that although I have been pleased with every aspect of this restaurant, it has not taken my breath away. I went here for the second…
yelp.com - user review - 09/05/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Johnny R.

4.0 of 5 stars. So I have to admit that I was hoping to be wowed. I wasnt. But it came close. If I hadnt been exhausted, it may have wowed me. The meal was really good. I too went the cafe menu (bar) route. Since…
yelp.com - user review - 08/29/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Melanie W.

2.0 of 5 stars. ******2.5 stars****** Walking in the first thing to throw me was the decor. It looks like something an elderly woman would have put together in the early 90s to be chic. The pastel stenciling in the…
yelp.com - user review - 08/27/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Jeff L.

5.0 of 5 stars. Someone forgot to tell me..... That this is a nice restaurant. I've lived in CP for years and always walked right by Palenas, saying I'd stop in some day, but never did till last winter. There was…
yelp.com - user review - 08/25/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Rebecca D.

5.0 of 5 stars. When you go -- and you must -- sit in the front and order the fries.
yelp.com - user review - 08/07/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Mary Kay S.

4.0 of 5 stars. Enjoyed my evening here at Palena. Didn't do the tasting menu, which might have earned the place that fifth star, but our meal out in the cafe was quite nice. First, I loved the bread they brought out.…
yelp.com - user review - 08/01/2007
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You do get want you pay for!

Very tasty food! I had a sidecar as a pre dinner drink, best thing ever! But just a warning, the dining room is a pre-fixed menu and it is not cheap at all. The front room is much for casual and cheaper is...
menupages.com - user review - 07/27/2007
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Frank Ruta rules

Frank Ruta is a chef's chef - committed, creative, purist and with...
urbanspoon.com - user review - 06/13/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Jon F.

5.0 of 5 stars. The bar menu is a great idea. That roast chicken was really fantastic, but the fried shit plate was a bit soggy and not that tasty. Everything else was very good, though I'm not certain it's as…
yelp.com - user review - 03/22/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Jennifer K.

4.0 of 5 stars. Mmm...tasty. Palena is a regular in my rotation. It fits many moods and appetites from casual and hungry for a burger and fries to feelin' fancy and ready for a multi-course feast. Many customers…
yelp.com - user review - 03/13/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by giin a.

5.0 of 5 stars. okay, this om-shanti girl doesn't play foie gras. force feed a cute little duck or goose? no thanks, peta-hater! except...at palena. so yummy -- i feel okay risking bad karma for palena foie gras…
yelp.com - user review - 03/07/2007
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Yelp.com Review - by Dustin H.

5.0 of 5 stars. Palena is one of the best restaurants in DC and the bar menu is an unbeatable value. The restaurant is very cozy, and it can be predictably hard to get a table up front. It's worth the wait though,…
yelp.com - user review - 01/26/2007
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User Review

My hubby chose Palena for his birthday dinner because he heard about the fabulous roasted chicken in the cafe. It was a great choice-sitting in ...
gusto.com - user review - 12/10/2006
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Yelp.com Review - by Daryll H.

4.0 of 5 stars. For some reason, based on the reviews of this place, I assumed it was a typical bar/restaurant sort of thing with some good food. Very, very wrong. This is a mid-high end restaurant with well dressed…
yelp.com - user review - 12/06/2006
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Yelp.com Review - by Sean G.

4.0 of 5 stars. The current working digs of a former White House chef, Palena is a gem. The burger specials are a way to go without breaking the bank. And theyre GOOD -- this decidely aint a burger joint but they…
yelp.com - user review - 08/18/2006
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Yelp.com Review - by Tom D.

4.0 of 5 stars. 4.5 stars LOVE Palena -- it does seem silly to go to the dining room when you can eat like that at the bar -- might be the best bar food ever -- but the dining room is a treat. On my short list with…
yelp.com - user review - 07/19/2006
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Yelp.com Review - by Heath A.

4.0 of 5 stars. With a bar menu this good; why go back to the dining room? I have eaten at Palena a half a dozen times and always at the bar. The bar features several dishes all at $10. My three favorites are in…
yelp.com - user review - 01/18/2006
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Frommer's

One Metro stop past the Woodley Park-Zoo station takes you to the residential neighborhood of Cleveland Park, which is exploding with good restaurants. Palena is one that's worth the trip. Palena is the...
frommers.com - user review
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Wcities

chef frank a. ruta and ann amernick's imaginative dishes and beautiful preparation will leave you with a memorable dining experience. the comfortable and relaxing atmosphere coupled with the excellent food and...
wcities.com - user review
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TripAdvisor

we had an excellent dinner here on a recent visit to d.c. palena has a casual room in front and a formal.....
tripadvisor.com - user review
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Fodor's

it ain't cheap, but it's the best food in dc. try the cafe seating in the front if you're price-conscious--entrees there are $9. even the hamburger and the hot dog (really a sausage) are incredible...
fodors.com - user review
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Yahoo! Travel

Find valuable restaurant information including descriptions, photos, reviews and interactive maps for Palena in Washington, District of Columbia. Locate additional information on sights, attractions and...
travel.yahoo.com - user review
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Gayot

as ann amernick and frank ruta promised when they joined forces to cook, they are delivering authentic, italianesque main dishes with american undertones---all followed by amernickis exquisite desserts. the...
gayot.com - user review
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10Best

the brainchild of two former white house chefs, this upscale restaurant courts diners with american dishes influenced by the cuisines of italy and france. recommended entrees are seemingly endless, but...
10best.com - user review
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AOL CityGuide

an ever-changing menu of untraditional pairings...
cityguide.aol.com - user review
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OpenTable

palena is a small town in the province of chieti in the abruzzo, the rugged, rustic region east of rome. the abruzzo is still mostly unspoiled & authentic. the environment influences the cooking in which...
opentable.com - user review
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