Unforgettable National Harbor Dining Experience
National Harbor, a waterfront destination in the heart of Maryland, is not just known for its picturesque views and vibrant nightlife, but also for its diverse culinary scene. The area boasts an array of restaurants that cater to every palate and preference, from seafood lovers to steak connoisseurs, from casual diners to gourmet enthusiasts. Whether you're in the mood for a quick bite or a lavish meal, the restaurants in National Harbor offer an unforgettable dining experience. This article will guide you through the best dining spots in this bustling hub, ensuring you find the perfect place to satisfy your cravings.
The walrus oyster & ale house
4.2
(3088)
Casual seafood spot with local fare, whimsical spirit & views of Potomac & Old Town Alexandria.
Reviews:
Little pricey for the food but it was good. The spicy margarita was delicious (: it would be nice if it would be a little more spicy but that’s my personal likes. The lobster roll $39 before taxes was good, the bread was the best part ,really delicious and the lobster of good quality with fries. I do not know a lot about oysters but this sweet oyster was really fresh 🤞🏼. The Surf & Turf plate, the crab cake was delicious, the steak was good a little bit more of seasoning and the grilled asparagus were fine, the only think is I hope they used another type of plate for presentation since I know that using a wood plate can be a bad trick if you do not have it the correct sanitize process, but I think they do it. Other than that the server DJ was really nice and was checking on our table. The hostess might be a little more friendly when they gave you the welcoming and goodbye. I shared this meal with my partner and we paid $148.58 including tip
Andrea Victoria Coronel
I went here to hang with a friend for dinner, while I was waiting I was about to catch the Happy Hour options before last call on that. I had the carpenters punch, it was okay it did the job. The bar staff were friendly and helpful. For dinner I had the calamari and the feature for this month- I ordered the Stuffed Rainbow Trout- it was stuffed with crab meat with broccolini and sauces/spices underneath. The group that sat next to us ordered it as well after they say my plate. It was pretty good, something I would order again. All in all I enjoyed the staff, the food , and the vibe.
Rewine-ing the Week Podcast
The food was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the service as much as the food. It was a group of 7 of us, and they were able to accommodate us quickly. We started Oysters, and they were great and fresh. Then I ordered the crab cake sandwich and cinnamon rolls. It was good and the price was awesome too. I would definitely be back here.
Rolling With Jones
The food is really good here. I got the devils eggs for starters, and the seafood linguini for the entry. For the drinks, I ordered the carpenter’s punch which is on a sweet side. Overall experience is good. Will definitely recommend this place..
Abby Adeg
I was looking for amazing seafood and this place did NOT disappoint!! The oysters were incredible and that lobster roll really is the best in Maryland! Also insured the fries for mashed potatoes and those were some of the best I’ve ever eaten. Bring an empty stomach and dive in!
Dionne Waugh
152 Waterfront St, Oxon Hill, MD 20745, USA
Redstone american grill
3.9
(2698)
Slick modern grill house with a diverse wine list, serving wood-fired steaks, seafood & sandwiches.
Reviews:
We were a family of 4 on a Saturday around 4pm. Walked right in, harber was rather quiet than usual. Got a comfy booth. The restaurants ambiance is comfortable. Decorated for breast cancer awareness and offered specialty drinks donating a portion to the cause. Rose sangria was very light tasting but good. We all started with shrimp and corn chowder which was good, thick and creamy with plenty of shrimp in it. 3 of us ordered ribs and 1 beef rib. Overall it was okay. We did order an extra side of mushrooms which hands down was the best ever!!! We had to ask numerous times for water and still only got 1 refill while there. Had to remind 2x about the sangria that was ordered. Bathrooms are always clean which is a plus in a popular attraction such as the harbor. Experience in general was okay, average price for surrounding restaurants.
Brittany Williams
By far the best! Most definitely get a 10/10! Service was great! Benjamin was wonderful!! He put our order in…… less than 5 min later our entree and starter was at our table! No I am not over exaggerating! The food was amazing! The chicken chopped salad, rotisserie chicken andddd the buffalo jumbo shrimp were A1!!!! You cannot come here and not the buffalo shrimp! Definitely enjoyed my birthday here…. It’s sad others didn’t have the same experience as me!!!
Devaute Robinson
Food and drinks were great! The service was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Cauliflower bites were tasty. Filet was cooked perfectly! Try the signature drink with Pineapple it is delicious!
J Cowins
There are a lot of restaurants in the Harbor area that have very similar menus with slight variations. I just happened upon this restaurant and what they gem it is. The corn bread appetizer is so good. It will make you slap your mama. Our server Duane was very personable, and after telling him I was from the South, he managed to get me some sweet tea even though it was not on the menu. Great atmosphere with a beautiful view of the Harbor.
Tony Corley
Being from NY and now residing in NJ this is my 3rd time at the harbor. I chose red Redstone with the strong push from my partner who was with me and very hungry. Upon reviewing the menu after looking at many restaurants this was the one and we were not disappointed at all. The service from Walt and Joya at the bar was very attentive. The drinks were everything and the food was better than expected. No complaints. I would absolutely come back I definitely recommend. We came at 2:30 on a Sunday for memorial weekend. The ambiance and views with the chill vibe is definitely a highlight. Love me some MD!!
Kim Walker
155 National Plaza, Oxon Hill, MD 20745, USA
Public house national harbor
3.9
(2436)
Spacious bar & grill serving American fare from breakfast till late-night, with weekly live music.
Reviews:
I’m sitting in Public House as I type this review. I decided to review this restaurant after reading several reviews that described my experience verbatim. The food is good and came out hot and I’d say faster than expected due to amazing runners. HOWEVER, the wait staff is absolutely DEPLORABLE! Why are they bad? Well they’re incentivized to be that way. When you mandate a 15% gratuity irrespective of the service received, why would anyone do their job. While 15% is below what I normally tip, our wait staff did absolutely nothing to earn it. We had to wait outrageously long to get a refill on water and receive the check as our server was busy flirting with one of her co-workers all night. I thought it was isolated until I witnessed other servers nonchalantly waiting their tables as well. For the price and the hassle, I will not be returning to Public House. Definitely one and done for me! As you can see from one of my pictures, the food was good! Just not worth the poor service and forced tip.
Jay Pete
The food was great! It came out in a reasonable amount of time, was cooked properly, and was quite flavorful. Sadly, the service was severely lacking. While.pur food was delivered in a reasonable amount of time, no one came to check in on us. We were a party of 3 but only received 2 place settings and even though I asked multiple people for a third, we never received it. Sadly, we will likely not be returning.
Wesley Daunis
Food was good. Got the steak frites. Loved the beer battered fries and that the steak came with garlic butter. But the food was already lukewarm by the time it arrived. The service was terrible. I was there on a Wednesday night. Not busy at all. The server came to the table 3 times and we had to ask the bartender to please find our server because we were ready to leave and had been waiting for her to come to the table for over 15 minutes. Also, there was a creeper trying to hit on some women at the bar. Thought they were all about to fight because he would NOT leave them alone. Also found where someone had left debris from what I can only assume was from someone rolling a blunt on the baby changing table in the men’s bathroom. And finally, the tip. We always tip generously. Often 30% or more. We had planned to tip around 10% and did so only to realize after the fact that they automatically charge 15% tip on all tickets. So the server ended up with a big tip that just wasn’t deserved. It’s like she had never dined in a restaurant before and it was her first day on the job. Won’t be back.
Mike Hovater
We stopped in for a late dinner after an event in the harbor and had a great time. Our food came quickly and our server was extremely kind. My fiance loved his burger and I got an extremely tasty salad. Make sure to look over your check - we noticed this restaurant adds a complimentary 15% which hopefully goes straight to the servers!
Ashlina Chin
So this place for me is a guaranteed smash anytime I've ben here. If I'm in doubt about what to eat or simply passing through can't miss. The fries are ALWAYS crispy (exactly) as fries should be. My go to is the shrimp & grits or the salmon 🙌🏾. No matter whether you're on a date or hanging as a group this is the place. Service is usually good & the drinks are good as well (old fashioned). Definitely one of my new favorite go to places
C Johnson
199 Fleet St, Oxon Hill, MD 20745, USA
Pappas crabcakes
4
(173)
Modern counter-serve joint at the MGM National Harbor featuring crab cakes & fried seafood.
Reviews:
Loved the Crabcakes! Lots of Crab and very little "filling" - the way a Crab cake should be (in my opinion). Not what I was expecting as far as restaurant as it was in a food court and pricey for being in a food court (almost $100 for 2 people). With that being said - the food was outstanding ! The Fries done the Pappas way were sooo good!
Kevin H
My first time coming here the girl working was patient with me & helped me decide on what I wanted to get. I ended up getting the snack & got crab fries instead of the old bay ones. Although the old bay fries are just as good. I’m a little picky when it comes to my crab cakes & these were delicious. The seasoning was just right. You can taste the flavor & it wasnt overpowering. They also didn’t use a lot of filler in the crab cake it was mostly crab meat. Definitely will be back here
c Johnson
This place is on the expensive side but it's worth it for good seafood. If you want a no filler crabcake this is where you'll find it. The clam strips and fish and chips are good too. Shrimp was okay but needed more seasoning imo. Overall I'd definitely recommend this spot for a quick meal. Every Wednesday the food is 50% off if you are a senior w a mgm rewards card.
Courtnee O
This place is NOT by any means budget friendly, however, it is to be expected when you visit the MGM! I paid $34 for one plate. I ordered the Crab Cake plate and the waiter asked if I’d like to upgrade the fries to the crab fries (my initial thought), so I said of course. We waited about 5 mins for our food and we ate it there. EVERYTHING was delicious! The sauce on the crab fries was the runner star of the plate standing next to the amazingly tasting crab ball! I’d definitely eat there again, as long as I’m winning at the black jack table! Side note, the fries were hot and the sauce was warm but, the crab meat was definitely cold, that kinda threw me off but it was still good!
Brotha Herb
We got the fish and chips and shrimp with fries and one bottle of water and it cost almost $50. The shrimp was not bad but not great. The fish was not good at all and had no flavor. The fries were soggy almost like they weren't fully cooked. The staff was nice though.
Brunette Becca
7200 MGM National Ave, Oxon Hill, MD 20745, USA
Succotash
4.2
(3665)
Chef Edward Lee's classy eatery melds Dixie & Asian flavors in an inventive menu.
Reviews:
I honestly do not know where to begin but I can say I was completely blown away by the impeccable service I received. The food and my waiter, L.B were consistently delightful from beginning to end. We went to Succotash to celebrate our anniversary and chose “The Taste of the South” which is a six course meal. You get the opportunity to try 11 different recipes from appetizers to desserts. We honestly loved every dish that was served. I was the most impressed with the Shrimp and Grits. (I do not normally like grits so when I say this was good It was AMAZING) It was well prepared and actually tasted good! L.B was very attentive, the staff worked very well together, and It was a very calm atmosphere. Our plates were replaced every time a new round came out and L.B. cleaned the table every time the plates were changed. I’ve been raving about this experience since I left! Do not think twice book that reservation- we definitely will be back!! Thank you, L.B. for making our anniversary so special ♥️🥂
Raja
This was my first time! The food did not disappoint. I had the shrimp and grits and the peach cobbler for dessert. The grits were rich and savory and mixed so well with the briny fresh shrimp. The cobbler was soft and fresh with homemade whipped cream. I am so happy I came and will return again.
Tara Tucker
The food was simply amazing. Everything was fantastic! We got the sharing plate for two and they brought us everything we wanted to try off the menu. The wings were fantastic, the Mac and cheese- brilliant. I love chicken and waffles but theirs was absolutely amazing. So much so that my husband ate it! I don't eat fish but he said all the fish dishes were so great. Check this place out you won't regret it.
Elise Richard
Huge thank you to our waiter, Erickwho provided us excellent service and also who recommended we try the white BBQ chicken wings. These wings have raised the bar entirely. Seasoned to perfection! All of our food was fresh and full of flavor, soul food for sure warm and delicious. We completed our meal with the best homemade biscuits, butter and strawberry jam. Mr. Keith Flowers, You are doing a tremendous job here at Succotash, glad to meet you Sir, we will be coming back all the way from California soon!
J R
Absolutely loved this place. The deviled eggs are awesome. Try the bacon jam ones and you will not regret it. The chicken and waffles were on point the glaze on the chicken made them pop. We ordered the Pimento cheese hush puppies and they were very moist and you really could not tell they had much pimento. The pimento sauce they come with was good. Try the pimento hamburger. So moist and cooked to order. The salmon and succotash was delicious. All the dishes we ordered were good. Our server was so good and attentive. If you need a good server ask for Kishion. Thanks Succotash for a great experience.
Kathy Anglea
186 Waterfront St, National Harbor, MD 20745, USA
Silver diner
4.5
(296)
Modeled after the classic American diner, this regional chain supplies comfort fare & jukebox tunes.
Reviews:
Great time talking with Kayla at the bar, she was very friendly and had good recommendations. The pickled chicken and french toast was so good. The side of sauce it came with was so good. I think it was a sweet jalapeno chili flake sauce. Best old fashioned in this area I could find, espresso martini was good also. Prices are average for this part of town.
Jason Achee
Great visit. Been in DC a week and have had 5 cappuccinos that were awful…this was the best yet. Great waitress who was very informative and punctual. Soup, onion crips and spinach were on point…the Flat Iron Steak was meh…too rubbery for my extremely dull steak knife. Taste was pretty good. Still rated higher because other than that, this is a great spot. Park in the lot across the street by the water and bring you parking ticket with you. They validate up to 90 minutes. There’s a scanner inside to the right….oh… Brownie Decadence if you dare. But warning, it’s huge.
Will Perez
Ok so we stopped on the way through to walk around the area and the classic diner look drew our attention. After parking I called to see if they were dog friendly and was told yes for the outside seating, perfect for me. We walked up and my wife went in as I stood at the curb enjoying the sights. She was asked by the hostess if the dog outside was the dog in question, odd my wife said yes and then was told well we only allow small dogs per their license from either the state or town. Interesting as Pepper is 50 pound lab. When my wife challenged this they recanted and gave us a seat. I am not one of those people with a dog with a fake service vest. I was driving through the area on my way back from vacation with the family. So let’s move to food. Two of us ordered the eggs Benedict with crab cake special they were both good as mine was cooked well and my sons was a tad over with no run in the yolk. My wife had the red white and blue French toast and she like it. My eldest ordered the French toast and liked it. My youngest had the chocolate chip pancakes with scrambled eggs, he said it was just ok. Pepper ate the eggs with no complaints. Service was good Ronnie were personable and nice. The atmosphere definitely gets 5 stars as it was nice to sit on the sidewalk and people watch and there was a nice breeze. I did like the fact that they source food from local farms.
Michael J. Barros
Definitely an unexpected surprise. Not at all a tradition diner experience but instead a very impressive culinary display. Loved the staff and they were fun and fast. The food was delicious and had plenty of variety. Serving sizes are generous and the flavors are great.
Zach Webber
Had the opportunity to check out the new location during the pre opening event. My friends and I had a blast! Here are some of my thoughts: Environment The space is beautiful and spacious. Plenty of seating for casual dining with a bar and plenty of outside sitting. I was in awe of how spacious it was and the warm environment. Service Our server was great. She did a great job making sure we had everything we needed. She was welcoming and polite and had great customer service. Although it was very busy she did a great job of making sure we were checked on and that our food came out as quickly as possible. Food For the pre-opening they had a limited but quality menu. My table shared the buffalo wings and the brussel sprouts. I ordered the rib-eye philly steak and we made room for a milk shake and the brownie decadence which was a brownie with vanilla and chocolate ice cream with whip cream. Overall all the food was pretty good. I enjoyed the rib-eye sandwich - I would probably get it again. Everything was pretty tasty and definitely worth coming back and trying other options. The deserts were decent. The milkshake felt like it was missing something but still not bad and the brownie was pretty good but I've had better at other locations. Overall it was pretty good and I left wanting to try other options once the location opens. Overall We enjoyed ourselves at the pre opening and enjoyed the food and the vibe. Silver Diner is a solid establishment for a late night meal or a early morning breakfast. The national harbor location is in a great spot and perfect for the area.
Michael Richardson
108 Waterfront St, Oxon Hill, MD 20745, USA
Mezeh
4.4
(809)
Reviews:
We didn’t really know what to expect from this place but it was close to our hotel so we thought we’d give it a try. It’s basically the build-your-own-burrito concept but applied to Mediterranean food. My family didn’t really know what to expect but the staff was awesome and super friendly and walked us through the ordering process and answered all our questions. It was all super good. My wife said she’d eat here every day if she could.
Robert Taylor
Excellent food , so delicious and Halal food. So kind staff and high level of professionalism and hospitality. Place is so nice too. Value for money.
Dr. Ahmed Newera
Had great expectations at Mezeh. Love Mediterranean food and I eat it often, but Mezeh was a miss for me today. The staff was very nice - food was just ok, I could not finish my meal. (Disappointed) The toppings were just not fresh and overall lacked flavor.
Noemi Crespo Rice
There was a long wait line all the way to the doorway. The line was able to move fairly with three staff were working and serving. We had one chicken kebab bowl with arugula, spicy hummus, roasted vegetables, chickpeas, pickled onions and olives. Another one was chicken kebab in pita pocket also with arugula, spicy hummus, roasted vegetables, chickpeas salad, pickled onions and Turkish olives. They were both good and in fair prices in this tourist area on such busy Saturday noon.
Adam Lee
we ate here twice ; the first time , AC was working and second time the AC was broken and the workers had to serve in the heat. the food was good there are a lot of options for toppings and sauces , price is decent
Iliana Polinskiy
144 National Plaza, Oxon Hill, MD 20745, USA