Last summer, the Washington Business Journal shared that Jônt, located at 1904 14th St NW Washington, DC 20009, is the new “most expensive” restaurant in the Greater D.C. area. One of our team members attended a birthday dinner at Jônt so we will show you the step by step experience and answer the question, “is it worth it?”
The tasting menu consists of more than 20 different preparations at the restaurant, which has earned two stars in the Michelin guide. The menu is going for $375 per person and an optional seven-beverage pairing ranging from $95 (for non-alcoholic drinks) to $195 for the signature wine pairings, and up to $650 for the “F*** It” beverage pairing (explained on the menu as “You are already here, so you might as well…”). The average cost of the beverage pairings is $313.33, which comes out to $688.33 per person overall.
Jônt describes itself as “a team of young and inspired chefs taking down the walls between kitchen and guests and taking you on a culinary adventure. Immerse yourself in a progressive tasting menu focusing on the simple, yet luxurious, ingredients around the world with deep inspiration from Japanese cuisine. We challenge the seasons, navigate beyond the limits of time and break with tradition– getting playful with process and tricky with techniques at the intersection of place and possibility.
Below we take you through the experience and answer the question “is it worth it?”
Upon entering you walk up the stairs and into the 17-seat chef’s counter where each guest has a digital menu that shows what you’ll be eating for the night and any possible enhancements you can add to your meal. You’ll also be poured a glass of complementary champagne.
Once you’ve decided on any possible enhancements or beverage pairings (neither are mandatory), you are served your first course and provided with your beverages.
The first course: “PORK – RED BEAN – STEAM BUN FOIE GRAS – PEAR – BRIOCHE KAMASU – WAKAME – LIGHT KALUGA WAGYU TARTARE – TOSAZU – BUCKWHEAT ANKIMO – PORCINI – EVERCRISP APPLE”
Second course: “BAFUN UNI – HOKKAIDO black futsu pumpkin chawanmushi – kombu – soy milk”Third course: “BURI – TOYAMA beet – pomegranate – kanpyo”Fourth course: “MEDAI – NAGASAKI koji – buttermilk – dark kaluga”Fourth course: “MEDAI – NAGASAKI koji – buttermilk – dark kaluga”Fifth course: “KOSHIBUKI RICE – NIIGATA king crab – maitake – truffle”Sixth course: “PINK PINEAPPLE baby radish – pineapple dashi – kombu oil”For the seventh course, everyone chooses their own chopsticks out of a box: “HIMALAYAN MOREL tempura – citrus broth – foie gras cap – duck sausage”For the seventh course, everyone chooses their own chopsticks out of a box: “HIMALAYAN MOREL tempura – citrus broth – foie gras cap – duck sausage”Eighth course: “WAGYU BEEF tongue – top round – seaweed”The ninth course was the start of dessert, which takes place in a lounge area after being re-seated.The ninth course was the start of dessert, which takes place in a lounge area after being re-seated.The ninth course was the start of dessert, which takes place in a lounge area after being re-seated.Tenth course: “KAKIGORI yuzu – etrog – olive oil”Eleventh course: “PARSNIP BUTTER MOCHI black walnut – yuba – pompona vanilla”Matcha ceremonyMatcha ceremonyThe Box arrives at each table, brimming with a delightful assortment of treats tucked away in its drawers. The top drawer is home to madeleines. One drawer is filled with yuzu, chocolate, and pistachio flavors, while another contains bonbons in raspberry and marshmallow, strawberry and hazelnut, and passion fruit and coffee and other varieties.
Is spending almost $700 on a single meal worth it? It’s hard to say that any kind of food at that price is “worth it”, but is the experience likely once in a lifetime? Absolutely. The restaurant is usually booked months in advance with plenty of repeat customers and our party of four all agree that it’s the one of the best meals we’ve ever had (combination of taste and experience).
