Sequoia

Delayed post: I came for Christmas Day brunch with my family and it was honestly the best holiday dining experience we have ever had. The venue itself is gorgeous, and has so much space it would be difficult not to be able to make whatever sized party work for them. The day we went was obviously slightly different, being a holiday. They offered a bottomless beverage option included with their holiday brunch. They had so many different options it was amazing. I would definitely come back for a brunch service. Also, they are right on the waterfront and in warmer weather you should definitely check out their enormous patio seating area.

Service was slow and they seemed upset that I only wanted water. Food was good though

Has real potential due to the location and the views, but as a restaurant, it just failed on so many levels.
If you decide to go despite this review, be sure to call ahead and check on the event schedule before arriving — because they’re not going to go out of their way to inform you if the main dining room is closed. And, like they did with us, they’ll wait for you to show up and put you in an overflow section.
So, here it is: Our small group arrived at Sequoia for a fun Friday night with dinner/​drinks, but the entire place was deserted for a private event. After regrettably deciding to stay and give it try, things started getting weird pretty quickly.
The server came over to introduce himself, which started innocently enough. But after five minutes go by, now the opening monologue is too much. What started as excusable conversation in the beginning became unprofessional and borderline creepy throughout the night. He started ogling my sister-​in-​law each time he would come to the table and unmercifully pushed food and drinks on us like a used car salesman. He recommended items that they ended up not having available and he interrupted just about every conversation mid-​sentence with a little joke or an off-​colored comment. I think I asked him at one point if he was planning on pulling up a chair and joining us at the table. He didn’t get the hint.
So, we’re ready at this point to leave and find a different place. I requested the check and I guess he overheard that it was my wife’s birthday while we toasted to her and he brought out a small cake, which truly was a thoughtful gesture and showed a glimmer of hope for him and the restaurant. But we all got one final laugh when the bill came and he charged us $ 10 for the cake. The one that he voluntarily brought out! Hilarious.
Lesson learned. when something has 3 stars and under on Unilocal,you stay away.

The 4 stars are only for the brunch and the place. This is my favorite spot for Sunday brunch since 2006, great food, drinks are ok but bottomless. Unlimited oysters, shrimp, egg bennedicts (you can customize your own), etc etc, the place is very nice. Service is Ok.
If I have to review this place based on their lunch and dinner I will give them 2 stars, I tried to like them coming in 5 different opportunities but, no, I rather go somewhere else for lunch and dinner.

We made reservations for our son and ourselves for Thanksgiving, but three days before we had to change them because our son, who is a Marine at Quantico, volunteered to take another Marine’s duty so he could go home to see his family. I felt terrible changing the reservation at the last minute, but the staff were SO understanding! They even let us box up some Thanksgiving dinner to take our son because he was «doing the right thing». Gio, our server, was amazing as was Mickey, the manager. Kudos Sequoia — we will be back!

The Sequoia is *beautiful* inside and out. I had Cesar salad and salmon. Both were delicious. My only complaint, and it’s a biggie. My wine glass smelled like soap. I tried to hold my nose when sipping my wine, but that diminished the wine obviously.

I’m giving this place a 4 because of the atmosphere, décor and a very tasty menu. They definitely need to work on the drinks. They did not hit the spot. I had to reread the so called ingredients in the rum rebellion twice because I didn’t taste any of it. It was blah. Out door seating is great unless someone comes and sits right under you with a cigarette (major turn off) when there is plenty of other available seats. They may need to section off sides for smokers. So over all this is a place worth given a try.

This review is really just for the bar, as I’ve only eaten at the restaurant once. This is my favorite spot on the waterfront. Service is great, drinks are reasonable, and the view can’t be beat. It’s usually easier to find a spot here than the other bars and they have lots of comfy lounge chairs. Perfect spot for a sundowner.

VIEW AND ATMOSPHERE WAS SPECTACULAR! That’s why I gave it 4 stars,
but as for the food. a 3.
I got the Hangar Steak, and yes I ordered it medium well, but I didn’t order it dry and chewy.
The rolls were good and the appetizers we got (crab dip and calamari) were excellent!
Our waitress was very nice and prompt. We were there for my aunts birthday and the sparkler they brought out was cool!
Definitely coming back! Would like to try their brunch.

I loved the waterfront view, that was the key highlight of the entire spot! The mimosas were not that strong, and it takes several to even feel a slight relaxation. The brunch buffet is varied, and the waffles are AMAZING! I wolfed that bad boy down in less than 4 minutes (I know, shameful right – my trainer will make me work for it later). The fruit was a nice array of fruit, and there were so many food options. The inside décor reminds me of something that belongs on the society pages – absolutely gorgeous!
This place is somewhere I would go for a celebration, birthday, and romantic brunch– the price comes out to $ 54.

I’ve been anti-​DC-​brunch for a bit and Sequoia officially brought me back. They have one of the BEST brunch buffet spreads around the district. And everything tastes great and is not drying out under heat lamps. The waffle and crab cake stations are AMAZING! !! The fact that I’m all about broiled (not fried) crab cakes and they fried these meaty patties to perfection speaks volumes. I mean I really, really, REALLY hate fried crab cakes. Lol. They had SO much meat. The mimosas are strong. Don’t get caught falling under the table. For the hefty price tag, you really get your $$$$ worth. Bravo! I will note this would have been a perfect 5 if the service was better. The were not very good with mimosa refills. Many of the service staff members seemed gloomy and unhappy. Not really the experience you want for Sunday brunch.

For the price, Sequoia would not be the top of my brunch list. My friend was kind enough to treat me to brunch at Sequoia and although I was excited to have a nice brunch where we had a stunning view of the Potomac, it is a one and done type experience.
This is a bottomless buffet brunch which for groups is probably a wonderful option, for me it was a little overwhelming and led to overeating. I was excited that they had seafood that wasn’t half bad and I also really loved the omelet bar, plus the copious amounts of fresh fruit. The drinks unfortunately were on the sweeter side and I eventually switched to a cup of coffee.
The best part of the experience was simply the location and the beautiful décor of the restaurant. It was a great afternoon of sitting inside on a crisp fall day and enjoying conversation with a very pleasant atmosphere. We had arrived early but as we were about to leave the live jazz band started playing, which was a beautiful touch.
I would recommend Sequoia for brunch if you’re looking to wine and dine visitors, if you have a picker eater that does best with lots of options or a group.

Let me begin by saying that I knew better. But a dear friend picked it for her birthday gathering so I had no choice. Here’s a quick run down: the watermelon cucumber cocktail was yummy but was very light on the vodka. The calamari was a yawn (although the 14 year old in our party loved it). The crab cakes were dry and slightly fishy and the accompanying broccolini was hard and flavorless. The short ribs were fork tender but also underseasoned and the accompanying polenta was lukewarm and bland. The salmon appeared to be poached so it was moist but again, incredibly bland. The only decent entrée was the seafood linguini and that was just ok.
But things got worse when we attempted to ask for separate checks for the 10 couples at the table. They refused to accommodate the request. Finally, one of the servers agreed to do it, but it meant that we had to go to the computer to tell him what each couple had ordered so he knew how to split it. We appreciated the effort greatly but didn’t understand why the initial request was so difficult.
Sequoia works bc of the waterfront location and that’s why it merits 2 stars. But that’s it. The drinks are weak, the food is mediocre at best and its wildly overpriced. Sequoia used to be amazing but it’s glory days are long gone. Go someplace else.

The food and service here is merely decent, which is a disappointment because of the price of this restaurant. To start off, the food isn’t spectacular. For example, I ordered a medium-​rare steak. Instead, I got a fully cooked steak. I will admit, however, that despite the setback, the steak was still seasoned and presented very well.
On the service side of things, the steak took forever to prepare, as well as some other items I had ordered. Above that, if you leave to go to the restroom, they take your plate even if you’re not finished!
Normally, when a restaurant stands out to me, I remember its name indefinitely. Sequoia’s name stands out for me as well, but in the «I can’t believe I paid that much money for such lousy food and service» kind of way.

My parents came up to visit a few weeks ago and this is where I decided to take them out to eat on a Saturday night.
We got there on time and they sat us immediately. It was a great night outside so we asked if we could be moved outside and they were reasonably accommodating. We found a table we wanted but the waitress had me go ask the head hostess if we could have the table — she wouldn’t do it herself. When we got the go-​ahead from the hostess they made us move the chairs up the stairs to our table. It was just bizarre.
After that little weird situation, we sat down and ordered drinks. I don’t remember exactly what the deal was, but there were a few drinks that were regular price but were jumbo sized so that was nice!
We started off with the crab cake on top of corn relish, the charred octopus, and the coconut shrimp. The crab cake in my dad’s words was «probably the best I’ve ever had» and the corn relish was delicious underneath. The charred octopus was very nicely cooked and had a nice smoky flavor to it. I’ve had better coconut shrimp. Eh.
I got the filet mignon with the purple potato mash and green beans. Steak was good! Nice and juicy and medium rare like I ordered. The plates came out piping hot too so that was nice. My girlfriend got the hanger steak with yucca and asparagus. I think her steak had a bit more flavor (might have been the dry rub) and she seemed to really enjoy it!
We got two desserts to share amongst the table of 4. First, we had the lemon cake dessert. Do NOT get this dessert. The cake tasted like a cheap lemon muffin you could pick up at any 7 – 11 (no disrespect to 7 – 11). The second dessert, warm maple apple pie, was muchhhh more pleasing to everyone at the table. I’d recommend that one for sure.
This place is a bit pricey but if you can splurge, go for it. There is a good atmosphere and great views at Sequoia.

I came for Sunday brunch.
The food: Honestly it was great, the quality and taste for one was very good, and the variety was great. They had things from ceviche to Eggs Benedict to Greek salad, it was great. Different stations, such as a Taco station, a Belgian waffle station, carving station. A lot. Same goes for dessert, ice cream station, macaroons, pastries etc.
Customer Service: nothing spectacular or terrifying, it was just good service, they did their jobs. Although there was one man on the eggs Benedict station who was wonderful, he was genuinely joyous and welcomed me there. He smile the whole time.
Atmosphere: was great, lively, outdoor and indoor seating. Very relaxed no running around.

The single redeeming quality of this place is the view.
The large amount of staff that seemed to be on shift were slow, poorly trained, and unfriendly. Glasses were spilling everywhere and just being kicked to the side, the bartenders were taking drink orders without any concept of who’d been waiting the longest, and the servers would disappear for long periods of time.
The buffet appeared to have a massive selection. I’d say this is the place for people that want quantity over quality. Definitely steer clear if you’re a food lover. It’s overpriced, chain food. There were actually a few couples around us who’d ordered drinks, taken a sip, and decided to leave because even the drinks were bad.
Sequoia reminded me of one of those all– inclusive, cheesy Caribbean resorts for which you can find discount deals online. It looks pretty in the pictures, but then you get up-​close and it’s been cheaply executed, there’s an unlimited supply of bad food and drinks, and the only «wins» are the beautiful view and if you’re able to find one item that you could consider «mediocre.»

My friend and I had visited Sequoia a couple weeks ago and unfortunately had a horrible first time experience, I was so upset to the point that I had to voice my concerns to their manager. I was at the point that I would’ve NEVER gone back to Sequoia and I would’ve made sure none of my friends went either. The Manager was extremely apologetic at the time and offered to take care of our tab that day and in addition he went to his office and came back with a certificate for 2 to their Sunday brunch. I felt horrible and thankful for what he had done that I decided to hold off on writing my review for this restaurant.
Now, I don’t even know where to begin with my review. I have become the biggest fan of this place! Their Sunday Brunch is a MUST! I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend it to any and everyone. It’s $ 45 a person with bottomless drinks, including Bloody Mary’s, Bellini’s and Mimosas! Their buffet had all gourmet dishes, I mean for $ 45 I couldn’t believe the amount and quality of food and drinks their offered their guests! If you think about it, anywhere else 3 drinks alone would = $ 45 if not more.
The seating is amazing, right next to the water and their balcony is so nice that you can sit in the sun or shade if you prefer, the interior of this restaurant is absolutely beautiful, in fact, my friend was telling me that their friend had their wedding there. It has a nice bar downstairs, it’s open and then there is another bar upstairs. Their Chandeliers are so amazing and drop so elegantly from the ceiling.
I waitress was amazing and she handled a whole section by herself so professionally and with a smile on her face the entire time, which was very impressive with the number of just drinks that we was passing out and plates she was picking up. When we checked out and handed her the card, she took it to the manager, who came out to visit us and I told him that I purposely waited to present the card to her at the end because I wanted to try them out again. He was very sweet in jokingly saying «thank you for testing us» haha.
I am a new fan and I will be going out there at a minimum of twice a month during the warm season!
Do yourself a favor and check this place out on a Sunday for Brunch!

For the most selection of brunch items this is the place to go. Brunch is served buffet style with a elegant spin. A wide variety of choices from seafood (shrimp, clams and oysters) to Waffles, Eggs anyway you like them, Waffles, Fruit, all types of treats (Brownies, several selection of mini cakes and ice cream), etc.
You have a selection of unlimited drinks — Bellini’s/Mimosas’s.
Brunch starts at 11:30am and ends at 3pm.

I don’t know where to even start. Went for a birthday celebrations at 9:00PM and ordered the penne. After receiving my dry penne with chicken which was $ 26, I had to inform the manager that the food tasted old and horrible. She quickly resolved the issue and I ordered the lump crab cake $ 18. The crab cake also was of poor quality for high price. This location seems to be more catered to the ambiance and not really the quality of food.

Ceci est un avis pour le brunch à volonté du dimanche.
Pour aller bruncher au Sequoia, il faut prévoir une journée entière car en l’espace de 5h (le dimanche de 11h à 16h) on va ingurgiter: un petit déjeuner, un déjeuner et un diner. C’est le fameux brunch à volonté avec boissons incluses. Et comme il n’est pas donné ($ 45 par personne), on est bien là pour l’amortir !
L’idéal est d’y aller par beau temps pour s’installer en terrasse avec une vue magnifique sur la rivière Potomac.
L’accueil est efficace, on est immédiatement pris en charge et placé en terrasse conformément à notre demande. On demande à déplacer l’énorme parasol pour le placer à côté de notre table. Pas de problème, 3 hommes baraqués s’en chargent.
On nous explique rapidement le principe du brunch et on prend nos commandes de boissons: toutes les boissons chaudes possibles, et boissons alcoolisées à volonté: Mimosa, Bellini et Bloody Mary (épicé ou classique)
On part vite à l’attaque du buffet pantagruélique. C’est décidé, on a 5 heures pour gouter à tout et le défi est de taille tellement le buffet est énorme !
L’organisation du buffet est par «stand «où tout est préparé sous vos yeux à la commande :
— Le stand omelettes avec un choix de garnitures impressionnant (chaire de crabe, bébé crevettes, épinards, mozzarella et cheddar rappés, champignons, oignons, poivrons…)
— Le stand œufs bénédictine à la florentine (avec bacon, épinards, chaire de crabe et sauce hollandaise)
— Le stand découpe de viande
— Le stand «Enrico «taco avec choix de poisson, porc ou poulet
— Le stand des gaufres avec choix de topings: chantilly, coulis de fruits rouges avec morceaux de fruits, beurre battu, chocolat
Il y a aussi les différentes tables avec notamment :
— La table des crustacés: huitres Chincoteague locales, palourdes, moules, crevettes à décortiquer et ceviche
— La table des accompagnements indispensables d’un bon brunch: le bacon, les saucisses, les pommes de terres sautées, le grits version cheddar
— La table équilibre avec les différentes salades et fruits
— La table des desserts avec la fontaine de chocolat avec des fruits, marshmallows, meringues et le gâteau de pain perdu au chocolat blanc sans compter les innombrables gâteaux servis en petites portions pour en gouter le plus possible
L’ambiance est décontractée même si du fait du prix, il y a un air de «happy few «. On se détend en écoutant la musique d’un groupe perché en haut de la terrasse.
On se régale de tous les plats jusqu’à risquer d’exploser. On a un serveur attitré, classique aux Etats Unis du fait de l’importance du pourboire, super attentif (limite trop attentif) pour nous resservir à boire. On peut regretter néanmoins que les assiettes né soient pas débarrassées plus vite et qu’il faille constamment demander des nouveaux couverts (soient débarrassés par erreur ou tombés par terre)
Pas de surprise au moment de l’addition: c’est $ 45 par personne sans aucun supplément.
C’est de l’exclusif à faire de temps en temps, vraiment sympa entre amis.

An der Waterfront gelegen ist das Sequoia im Sommer ein schöner Platz Umbach der PotomacRundfahrt einen Kaffee zu trinken und imWinter geht’s direkt zum Eislaufen und das Essen ist vorzüglich :-)