The Early Word on the Buzzy Rose's Luxury

It's been one of the most-talked about openings this year. Rose's Luxury made its debut about three weeks ago, and it's the first D.C. restaurant from decorated chef Aaron Silverman. Tom Sietsema gave it an early rave; what do others think? Here's what the first Yelpers, bloggers and others had to say about Rose's Luxury.

The Yelp Rave: Rose's Luxury is garnering an impressive five stars on Yelp, with 12 reviews in. Alasdair C. says, "This place is going to be a big hit, and a very welcome addition to The Hill...I know they say there's nothing like your first time, but by dessert I was already looking forward to my second date with Rose's Luxury. She's a keeper." [Yelp]

The Best of Barracks Row Proclamation: Joseph H. says, "The food was great and we had excellent service all night long. The price is a little high but with food this good (and obviously high quality) in a neighborhood like Barracks Row, you can't expect much less. Plus, we ended up bringing food home, which means we could have probably saved somewhere on our bill...Overall, this is maybe the best restaurant I have eaten at in DC. It is certainly my new favorite in Barracks Row!" [Yelp]

The Great Bread News: Emma K recommends, "Go try this place before everyone else finds it it, while walk-in tables are still easy to come by. Two of us grabbed a spontaneous meal here last night and were blown away - we can't wait to come back...We started off with nicely balanced whiskey-jalapeño cocktails and the complimentary potato bread with sour cream and bacon. I thought I'd had great potato bread before - I was wrong. This is the stuff of legend. Next up was pork and lychee salad, which was a flavor bomb and again, perfectly balanced - sweet, spicy, acidic, and totally addictive." [Yelp]

The Salty News: The only mixed review on Yelp comes from A.N., who says, "Rose's Luxury is charming with a good atmosphere and excellent service, however, we left somewhat disappointed and hungry. The popcorn soup was overly salty, the gnocci was just okay (definitely not worth $13 for I believe 3 gnocci). I really enjoyed the grilled octopus which was cooked perfectly and served with a nice puree. My date & I both enjoyed the crispy cauliflower and potato bread." [Yelp]

The Foursquare Shoutout: On Foursquare, Morgan F. says, "Food is unique and delish - small plates are pricy, but portioned nicely enough that you feel like you're actually getting something to eat. Staff couldn't be friendlier and decor is amazing!!" [FS]

The Order the Sausage News: Also on Foursquare, here's a tip from Kelly B.: "You really do need to get the lychee, coconut milk, and sausage dish. It's THE most inventive dish I've ever had." [FS]

More On That Lychee Dish: Zagat highlights the dish in the "Best Thing We Ate" feature. "It doesn't look like much when it's set down before you: a dollop of creamy stuff, some sliced red onion and a handful of lychee halves are your only visual cues. But the combination, which also includes garlic chips, peanuts, herbs and togarashi, should be given a good stir before diners dig in. When blended, the lychees work perfectly to tame the heat of the habaneros, and the overall result is a magical blend of textures and exotic flavors lent by the 20-some ingredients." [Zagat]

Ok, Seriously, Order the Lychee Dish: On Facebook, Paul S. says, "Wow - what a fantastic meal. The lychee and sausage salad was spectacular and we blew through two bowls of cauliflower. We are so happy to have you in the neighborhood." [Facebook]

The Date Night News: UrbanDaddy says, "This isn't a date spot that hits you over the head with the romance. Nope, this is like a two-level French farmhouse-cum-antiques-gallery that hits you over the head with conversation pieces—old-school diner stools at the open kitchen, washbasins used as planters and the Popcorn Soup with Grilled Lobster in front of you." [UD]

The Design News: Brightest Young Things writes, "If you have ever tasted Aaron Silverman's food, you won't be surprised when you see his new restaurant. It's just like his food: impeccable to look at, while still managing to exude warmth, comfort, and charisma." [BYT]

The Pulsing Energy News: Todd Kliman includes Rose's Luxury in his capsule reviews of places he's eating right now. "I love the crackle in the room when you walk in. I'm not talking about mere noise; lots of restaurants have noise. I'm not even talking about buzz, that sense that a new place is hot. This one has an energy that is unmistakable, a sense that you have entered a kind of rare and cherished zone where the enthusiasm of the kitchen and the staff is returned in kind by the diners, who all seem to walk out the door with smiles on their faces?this is one of the most exciting debuts of the year. I'd even go so far as to say it's one of the most exciting debuts of the past three years." [Washingtonian]

The Interesting Menu News: On Don Rockwell, lotus125 writes, "We tried Rose's tonight and really enjoyed it.  The space is gorgeous.  The service terrific.  The food is difficult to shoe-horn into a single cuisine but, to varying degrees, it was interesting and very good.  Some of my favorites were oysters with a dark and stormy granita; a vegetarian sausage with lychee and habenero (also had coconut foam and thai basil i think --  great thai flavors); popcorn soup (really tastes like pureed movie popcorn, put into an isi, with lobster); and spaghetti with strawberry and ricotta (great use of onion in it -- really worked). " [DR]

The Instant Classic News: DMV Dining reviews the place. "As for the service, it was impeccable. Our waiter was not only very knowledgeable about the menu but also had a great personality to boot. Everyone was so warm and inviting, and the positive vibes kept flowing throughout the evening. Each and every one of us was very happy not only with the meal, but also the overall experience." [DMVD]
· All Previous Rose's Luxury Coverage [-EDC_]